Standard Operating Procedures for FOREIGNERS

> National Referral Mechanism > Standard Operating Procedures for FOREIGNERS > Identification and referral > REFERRAL

MEASURE 1.4.

REFERRAL

Foreign nationals seeking protection or illegally residing who have been identified as victims of trafficking are immediately referred to the competent institutions and victim support service providers, taking into consideration the vulnerability of persons who seek international protection.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

MFA assists, upon requests from the competent Bulgarian authorities, in all activities requiring contact with the diplomatic or consular representation in the victim’s country of origin which may be in Bulgaria or in a third country. For crisis assistance, the consular staff refer the victims of trafficking to the competent institutions and organisation in the country of destination. 

State Agency for Refugees (SAR)

SAR staff in transit centres, registration and reception centres, and integration centres can identify victims of trafficking in the process of registration, accommodation, medical examinations, social interviews and during the proceedings for provision of legal status in accordance with the Asylum and Refugees Act. They assess the risk and immediate needs in the process of registration, accommodation, medical examinations, and during the proceedings for provision of legal status in accordance with the Asylum and Refugees Act.

Foreigners identified as victims of trafficking are referred to the competent institutions and victim support service providers.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Identification is performed upon a signal received from other competent national or foreign authorities, non-governmental organisations, or family and relatives of a presumed trafficked person.

International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

Foreign trafficked persons are identified upon signals of cases of trafficking from Bulgarian and/or foreign competent authorities, including MoI, SACP, international organisations, Bulgarian and foreign NGOs. Such signals are received at the IOM mission in Bulgaria and in all other offices of the organisation throughout the world. When IOM receives information about a trafficked person, it initiates a standardised risk and needs assessment procedure. The procedure includes cooperation with all institutions and people related to a specific case. IOM develops an initial re-integration plan that serves as a basis for the start of the protection and re-integration process of the victim in Bulgaria. If necessary, IOM refers the victims to services provided by partner organisations.

All measures related to a specific case are documented by IOM in paper and electronic version and are preserved according to the international standards and requirements of IOM.

IDENTIFICATION
RISK ASSESSMENT
DETERMINING THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS
REFERRAL

1

Identification and referral

2

Protection and support

3

Social inclusion (re-integration)