Aid for victims

Where can I find help?

If you are a victim of trafficking and you need help or if a person close to you is a victim of trafficking, you can call a hotline to find out what to do:
0800 20 100 – National Helpline for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
0800 1 86 76 – Helpline for victims of violence
+359 2 807 80 50 – National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
116 111 – National Helpline for Children
+359 2 939 47 74 – International Organisation for Migration
Submit a report at https://antitraffic.government.bg/

What help is available for victims of trafficking?

Victims of trafficking in human beings, regardless of whether they have been identified as such (by a law-enforcement authority), are entitled to immediate and unconditional access to social services. Since trafficking constitutes a “risk to their life, health, quality of life or development”, victims may benefit from specialised services under the Social Services Act (Article 12, paragraph 3).

Help may be provided in various forms such as:

  • Accommodation in a safe environment for victims and their children (if any)
  • Accommodation of children outside the family – with relatives and kin, a foster family, a social or health-social service of residential care (for example, a crisis centre for children)
  • Provision of food, clothes, sanitary products and essential commodities
  • Access to medical care
  • Psychological and social support
  • Assistance before State institutions on any matters – social, health, re-issuance of identity documents and others
  • Assistance in establishing contact and reuniting with relatives if it is safe
  • Assistance for finding job and accommodation
  • Putting victims in contact with a lawyer
  • Support during criminal proceedings if the victim takes part in such

Specialised services for victims of trafficking

Specialised services for victims of trafficking are provided by the National Commission for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings and some NGOs. Specialised social services are also provided by municipalities or by non-governmental organisations which are licenced as service providers. Many organisations develop innovative services funded under projects or by private donors.
Services which are created especially for victims of trafficking in Bulgaria are provided by:

1.National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings

  • Centres for temporary accommodation of victims of trafficking
    • In Sofia – managed by Foundation SOS – Families at Risk;
    • In Varna – managed by Foundation SOS – Families at Risk;
    • In Burgas – managed by Foundation Demetra.
  • Centre for Follow-up Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking
    • In Burgas – managed by Foundation Demetra.
  • Centre for Protection and Assistance for Victims of Trafficking (with temporary accommodation shelters)
    • In Sofia – managed by Foundation SOS – Families at Risk;
    • In Varna – managed by Foundation SOS – Families at Risk;
    • In Burgas – managed by Foundation Demetra.

2.Animus Association Foundation

  • Transit Centre for Victims of Trafficking in Sofia

3.А21 Campaign

  • Programme for long-term recovery

Competent to support victims of trafficking are the shelters for victims of domestic violence and of trafficking, the shelters for pregnant women and mothers, and the social service complexes in the country. All available services are shown in the interactive map.

Crisis centres as a social service for residential care are provided for children and youth who are victims of violence, trafficking or another form of exploitation. The centres provide individual support, accommodation and legal advice or social-psychological assistance when immediate intervention is necessary, including through mobile crisis intervention teams.

Access to services

Access to specialised services is effected in two ways:

1.Without referral, in case of a crisis situation (Social Services Act, Article 77, paragraph 3). Victims of trafficking may be referred directly to a centre or a shelter by the police or a helpline. In such cases, there is no need to make a preliminary needs assessment.

2.With referral from the Social Assistance Directorate as per one’s current address; to this end, a preliminary needs assessment is carried out.

Access for children to social services and placement at a residential care social service:

1.A child is placed in a social or integrated health-social service for residential care (such as a crisis centre) by the court. Until the court rules, the Social Assistance Directorate as per the child’s current address ensures temporary placement by an order of the Director of the respective Social Assistance Directorate as per the child’s current address.

2.A child is referred to a consultative social service by the Social Assistance Directorate as per the child’s current address; to this end, a referral document for the appropriate social service is issued.

Provision of social services

All social services for victims of trafficking are free of charge.

To benefit from any social services, clients signs a contract with the social service provider after an individual needs assessment is performed and an individual support plan has been outlined (Social Services Act, Article 80).

The term for the use of the social services depends on a person’s individual needs and the results envisaged (Social Services Act, Article 16).

The use of social services may be:
1. Short term – up to six months;
2. Medium term – up to one year;
3. Long-term – from one to three years.

The term may be changed depending on a person’s individual needs

Interactive map of services

Indicators of vulnerability to human trafficking
Indicators of human trafficking
Where can I find help?
Criteria and standards for provision of social services to victims of trafficking
Leading principles of work with victims of trafficking in human beings