IBEMA

Identification of potential trafficked persons in the asylum procedure

It is generally acknowledged that trafficked persons can be found in the Austrian asylum procedure. However, too often these individuals remain unrecognized – either because they do not view themselves as “victims” or do not reveal themselves as such, or because people around them are often oblivious to their situation.

Within this context, the IOM Country Office for Austria is implementing the project IBEMA II, which aims to increase the identification of (potential) trafficked persons in the Austrian asylum procedure and to enhance their access to protection. The project is co-financed by the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and runs from 1 July 2015 until 31 December 2016.

Activities

The project offers training sessions on the issue of human trafficking and how to identify (potential) trafficked persons to officials of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum, judges of the Federal Administrative Court, employees of company ORS Service GmbH and legal counsellors from institutions commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. These individuals are in direct daily contact with asylum seekers and thus have the opportunity to identify situations of trafficking and to refer affected persons to organizations that can offer further support and protection.

In total, 20 trainings will be provided throughout Austria within the framework of the project. The training sessions will be held together with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Austrian Federal Criminal Intelligence Service, the LEFÖ Intervention Center for Trafficked Women, the Men’s Health Center and the youth crisis centre “Drehscheibe” of the City of Vienna.

A brochure providing an overview of human trafficking and indicators of trafficking is available to trainees.

Furthermore, a study visit to Switzerland took place in order to facilitate a direct exchange of information and experiences between Austrian and Swiss authorities and institutions involved in the asylum procedure. As Switzerland also recently began implementing awareness-raising measures to increase the number of trafficked persons who are identified in the asylum procedure, the exchange was enriching for both countries.

The project builds on a pilot project, which was implemented from 1 April to 31 December 2014.

Material

Brochure "Identification of trafficked persons in the Austrian asylum procedure" (in German)

Contact

Katie Klaffenböck

kklaffenboeck@iom.int

+43 (0)1 585 33 22 46

This project is co-financed by the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.