La Strada Documentation Center

Policy Paper Project REST

Document number
3385
Date
25 January 2021
Title
Policy Paper Project REST
Author/publisher
LEFO IBF
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Guidelines/Recommendations,
Keywords
protection asylum residence trafficking policy paper Dublin
Summary

The project REsidency Status: STrengthening the protection of trafficked persons (REST project) is coordinated by LEFO IBF in Austria and implemented by 5 other LSI members in Serbia (ASTRA), Moldova (La Strada), the Netherlands (CoMensha), France (CCEM) and Spain (Proyecto Esperanza). The project works on improving access to a long-term protection for third country nationals trafficked in Europe, through a secure residency status, by exploring available long protection opportunities, including the refugee protection scheme.

Currently, huge differences are noted between the number of identified victims and issued residence permits and in general there are only few possibilities to obtain (permanent) residence on personal grounds in the different European countries.  Recommendations of the consortium include the need for protection of all trafficked persons regardless their legal procedure, more compatibility between NRMs, Asylum and Residence Permit Systems and the granting of residence on account of Victims’ personal situation. This policy paper developed in the framework of the project, will be used for further advocacy to promote residence for trafficked persons.