National Agency Against Human Trafficking: Most victims, recruited by relatives, friends, or neighbors

Most victims of human trafficking were recruited by people they knew - relatives, friends, or neighbors - and were sexually exploited, including through online platforms, the National Agency Against Human Trafficking (ANITP) reported on Wednesday.According to an ANITP press release issued on the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 326 victims were identified in the first half of this year - 42% of them minors and 79% women - figures that underscore the urgent need for swift intervention, prevention efforts, and the active involvement of society as a whole."July 30, designated by the United Nations through Resolution A/RES/68/192, serves as an annual moment of awareness, solidarity, and global mobilization against human trafficking. For ANITP, this day reaffirms its core mission: preventing trafficking, protecting victims, and supporting both national and international efforts to eradicate this scourge," the release emphasizes.To mark the occasion, ANITP conducted an extensive series of awareness-raising, training, and civic engagement activities in collaboration with national and international institutions, as well as private sector partners.From July 21-25, ANITP, alongside Frontex, Europol, and authorities from Romania, Belgium, and Cyprus, organized Cross-Border Action Days at Henri Coanda and Iasi airports. These operations focused on identifying potential trafficking cases and informing travelers.On July 29 and 30, ANITP staff also conducted training sessions for border personnel, strengthening the early identification capabilities within the National Identification and Referral Mechanism. As a result, 80 border police officers received specialized training, through a program developed in partnership with Frontex and the Association for Cooperation and Sustainable Development (ACDD).This year, the National Audiovisual Council supported ANITP's call to promote anti-trafficking messaging across broadcast media, significantly expanding the reach of public awareness campaigns.ANITP received significant support from Phoenix Group and Blitz TV, private media operators, to widely disseminate preventive and informational messages marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in public spaces, by broadcasting video materials and public service announcements in high-traffic public areas, such as train stations, airports, and metro systems, further raising awareness among the general public, the release further states.