The news is spreading!
People around Romania are becoming more aware of the fight against human trafficking and how they can get involved. Phase Two of our strategy to blanket Romania with anti-trafficking resources through video messaging in key locations is expanding daily.
We are excited to be partnering with the Romanian Ministry of Transportation and the Center for Assistance and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking.
In February, the press gathered to watch the unveiling of our monitors at the Timisoara airport. As news began to spread about the effectiveness of the prevention strategy already in place in Bucharest, we gained access to this strategic city. Timisoara is the third largest city in Romania. The current airport serves 5000-7000 passengers a day. We were invited to install monitors there and in a new terminal that will open in March, daily bringing 8000-10,000 more passengers through the region.
A New Strategic Location
This area is strategic in the fight against trafficking because it is the gateway to the Schengen Region. Traffickers funnel their “merchandise” into this region that holds the most successful countries in Europe.
The press was there to capture the excitement of the day and to date, 24 articles have been written about the next momentous step Romania is taking to protect its people from traffickers.
People are taking notice and they want to know how to protect themselves, their children, and their communities. This is just the beginning of a nation rising up to say, “Slavery no more!”
See What the Press is Saying
Here’s one example of these Romanian language articles people are reading. Take a look at a portion of (an English translation of) one of the articles:
Traian Vuia International Airport from Timisoara joins the campaign to prevent human trafficking initiated by Uncaged. 9 video monitors will be placed in the waiting rooms of the airport in Timisoara.
The objectives and stages of the partnership were presented during the launch event that took place on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Timişoara "Traian Vuia" International Airport, in the presence of partners, officials, and representatives of the local community.
During the 12 months of the partnership, Uncaged will carry out information and training actions for the general public to prevent human trafficking and increase awareness of this phenomenon among citizens.
At the same time, a pilot project will be carried out to install several 9 video monitors in the waiting rooms of Timişoara International Airport - Traian Vuia SA, on which short audio messages will be broadcast to the general public, informing them about the prevention and protection against abuse and of human trafficking, as well as promoting good behavior and passenger safety.
In 2024, Uncaged and its partners will financially support the running of a national program consisting of the installation of video monitors in crowded public places, monitors on which will be presented informative and educational materials related to the prevention of human trafficking and abuse.
"We started this national project in December 2023, and we are happy to be able to launch this new stage in Timişoara. We are always concerned about the safety of our children, and women in Romania and around the world, as well as all vulnerable people who do not have the chance to avoid the increasingly numerous traps laid by unscrupulous people, able to sell human beings as a commodity.”
The authorities in Romania are making significant progress in the fight against human trafficking. Allow me to mention here, with gratitude, for their involvement: the Ministry of the Interior, the National Agency against Human Trafficking, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity, as well as many other competent bodies.
We collaborate with non-governmental organizations from all over the country and from Europe to reduce the number of victims, but also for the identification and emotional and social rehabilitation of survivors.
Only together can we succeed! Because only together we are a force!" declared Beniamin Lup, European Director.
"Uncaged exists to build a new future for human trafficking survivors. We want to see them healed and restored. At the same time, in addition to healing and restoring the life course of every human trafficking survivor, we always strive to ensure that no one will go through these horrors ever again.
The campaign to prevent human trafficking, by placing monitors in the most crowded public spaces, will save the lives of thousands of women and girls. We have already received numerous calls to our short number that have allowed us to redirect potential victims. If they had fallen into the traffic trap, their life expectancy would have been only seven years! We can say, therefore, that we don't just protect. We literally save lives!
We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry of Transport and Timişoara Airport on this important project. This is just the beginning! We intend to cover all major air and land transport hubs as well as other strategic locations. Currently, we have started concluding partnerships with several ministries and government institutions to expand anti-trafficking strategies throughout the country. Thus, together we help the survivors in Romania to free themselves from the traumas of the past!", said Kim Westfall, founder of Uncaged.