USAID contributes to the OSCE's multi-donor funded "Residence Project" for establishing the first local NGO-managed safe house for trafficked persons in Macedonia. Other OSCE key partners include UNICEF and Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
The purpose of the safe house is to provide a safe haven for trafficking victims, primarily internally trafficked victims and Macedonian nationals trafficked in other countries who have been repatriated to Macedonia. In some instances, the safe house may be opened to foreign trafficking victims who have been granted permission by the Macedonian government to remain in Macedonia temporarily pending investigation of their trafficking case. The safe house is developing a unit to accept and assist child victims of trafficking which would adhere to all international and national standards regarding the rights of children as well as follow international and national guidelines for assisting child victims of trafficking in persons.
This institution will become an integral component of the National Referral Mechanism, envisioned as a framework for cooperation among governmental agencies and civil society organizations dealing with trafficked persons.
The Safe House provides a broad range of services to trafficking victims:
- shelter, food and clothing;
- psycho-social counseling services by qualified professionals authorized or licensed to practice in Macedonia;
- access to medical services by qualified medical professionals at qualified medical facilities;
- re-integration counseling, including vocational and employment skills training;
- legal counseling and access to legal representation;
- support in preparing victims to serve as witnesses against their traffickers;
- support in preparing victims to return to their homes and communities and, as appropriate, training in independent living skills (cooking, budgeting, health, personal security, etc.); and
- for foreign trafficking victims, support for their repatriation to their country of origin.
Contact Information
U.S.Agency for International Development
U.S Embassy, Samoilova 21,1000 Skopje, Macedonia
Telephone: +(389) 2 310 2000 Fax +(389) 2 310 2463
USAID Mission Contact:
Aleksandar Jovanovic
ajovanovic@usaid.gov
Tatjana Mitevska, Program Administrative Assistant
tmitevska@usaid.gov
USAID Development Outreach and Communication office
Biljana Velickovska, DOC Specialist