Moldova faces different problems
Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe; children are often abandoned by families trapped in poverty with no hope. Moldova still suffers from a Communist legacy and has a large foreign debt with high unemployment. It is heavily dependent on Russia for energy supplies and Russia has not hesitated to take advantage of this fact as a way of exerting economic pressure. The Orthodox Church has strong political influence. Preaching and planting churches in traditionally Orthodox villages is opposed, frequently with violence. (Pray-Europe reports that 800 villages still have no Christian witness.) Two-thirds of Moldovans are of Romanian descent, the languages are virtually identical and the two countries share a common cultural heritage. See also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17601580
Malta: Buying children
On Thursday 9 July police identified a suspect after two women reported a man trying to buy their daughters while walking along the Sliema front. Police said, ‘Investigations are still ongoing to identify the man who allegedly offered them money.’ On Tuesday Anya Soldatova, 31, felt ‘creeped out’ when a Middle-Eastern-looking man, in his early 30s, offered to buy her two-year-old blonde daughter and kept upping the price until he reached €30,000. Just last month through Project Stop a concert was held in Bugibba Town Centre to raise awareness on the problem of human trafficking in Malta. Many in the audience were surprised that human trafficking also takes place in Malta. Through the performances the message was ‘human trafficking robs victims of choice and freedom, takes advantage of vulnerability and leaves a lasting impact on its victims. Survivors carry physical, mental, emotional, and financial scars the rest of their lives.’ See also: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-07-08/local-news/Human-trafficking-awareness-concert-held-many-surprised-human-trafficking-exists-in-Malta-6736138529
Macedonia: Police raids after Channel 4 News probe
Police raided homes in the Macedonian village of Vaksintse as part of a people-smuggling investigation - a week after a reporter for Channel 4 News traced a kidnap gang to the area. Four people were arrested and 128 migrants, including women and children, were detained by police in the raids, on ten locations. The migrants were not arrested, but held as witnesses to the investigation into the smuggling of illegal immigrants. A week earlier journalist Ramita Navai visited the village to investigate reports that a kidnap gang was holding migrants at one of the houses there. Using the GPS coordinates from two men who say they were held in the village, Navai found the house where migrants were being beaten and held for ransom - forced to pay anywhere from €500 to €1,000 for release. When police carried out the raids, the house was empty. However, migrants from Syria, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries were found in five locations.
Luxembourg: Stronger stance on modern slavery practices
Building sites could be partially or totally closed if modern slavery practices are found under new powers to be given to Luxembourg's ‘Inspection du travail et des mines’. The body is responsible for checking that employers obey the law when it comes to workplace practices. The new EU directive aims to end criminal exploitation in the workplace where people are paid below minimum wage. Responding to a parliamentary question, employment minister Nicolas Schmit said that in addition to increasing powers to close down sites which illegally exploit workers, the new law will define who is responsible when work is subcontracted. A report claimed that Portuguese construction workers were being routinely exploited. One worker said he worked ten hours per day for 7.50 euros per hour.
