TARGETED CALL OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EU CIVIL SOCIETY E-PLATFORM AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

CALL OPEN TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS FROM THE EU AND FROM FOUR SELECTED NEIGHBOURING PRIORITY THIRD COUNTRIES[1]WHICH ARE NOT ALREADY PARTICIPANTS OF THE EU CIVIL SOCIETY PLATFORM AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

Please note that applications must be sent bythe 15th of May 2014 to:

Background

Trafficking in human beings is a gross violation of human rights explicitly prohibited by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union[2]. Safeguarding the human rights of victims is a priority for the Union and for Member States.

Over the last years, the European legislative and political framework addressing trafficking in human beings has been strengthened through the elaboration of two important instruments: Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims[3](hereafter 'the Directive') and the European Commission Communication "The EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016"[4] (hereafter 'the Strategy'). In addition, Council Conclusions on the Strategy[5], adopted on the 25th of October 2012, emphasise the need to identify, assist, support, protect and compensate the victims of trafficking in human beings, inviting the European Commission to implement and strengthen actions within the Strategy and the Directive, further developing policies and approaches to address trafficking in human beings. The EU Strategy has also been strongly welcomed by the European Parliament, whichon numerous occasions expressed its commitment to address trafficking in human being and its support to the Commission's work in this field.

The EU anti-trafficking policy is characterised by a comprehensive humanrights-centred and gender-specific approach, focused on victims' protection, assistance and support, and encouraging partnerships across relevant disciplines, between different levels and with the various stakeholders and actors involved, including civil society broadly understood.

Both the Directive and the Strategy recognise the key role of civil society in preventing trafficking in human beings and protecting and assisting its victims, including service providers. The Directive urges Member States to encourage and closely cooperate with civil society organisations working with trafficked persons. Amongst other provisions, the Directive requires national rapporteurs or equivalent mechanisms (NREMs) to be established in order to carry out trend assessments of trafficking in human beings, evaluate results of anti-trafficking actions - including data collection activities -in close cooperation with civil society organisations,and elaborate reports.

The EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings (hereafter "the EU Civil Society Platform"), was foreseen by the Strategy as a concrete action to strengthen the role of civil society in addressing the challenges of trafficking in human beings in the EU. The launching meeting of the EU Civil Society Platform took place in May 2013, in Brussels. It was opened by the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, andfacilitated by the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Myria Vassiliadou. A second meeting took place in Brussels in December 2013.

The EU Civil Society Platformcurrently gathers more than 100 civil society organisations from the 28 EU Member States and 4 neighbouring priority countries (Albania, Morocco, Turkey and Ukraine). Itsmeetingsare an occasion for participants to highlight challenges and concerns they face on the ground, to link with other civil society organisationsand to engage in a dialogue with the European Commission. Current participants responded to Calls for Expression of Interest published in 2013, at this stage there is no possibility to accept new participants.

Nevertheless, a Call for Expression of Interest to participate in theEU Civil Society e-Platformagainst Trafficking in Human Beings(hereafter "the e-Platform")is nowopen.The idea of an additional online tool emerged during the first meeting of the EU Civil Society Platform, to ensure continuity of the discussions. Taking into account the technical capacities of this instrument, the European Commission can invite more organisations to participate in the e-Platform,where new participants will take part to online discussions alongside those who already participate in the EU Civil Society Platform. Civil society organizations that wish to participate in the e-Platform and that are not already participating in the EU Civil Society Platform,need to respond to the open Call for Expression of Interest. The European Commission is now in the process of examining applications to the e-Platform.

Main objectives

The e-Platform will serve as an additional tool to the meetings of the EU Civil Society Platform, which will still take place on a regular basis. The e-Platform will guarantee the continuity of the discussions beyond those biannual meetings and ensure that they are broadened by including a higher number of organisations.

The e-Platform will be a space for discussion, sharing of information, exchange of good practices and for linking services and assistance provided to victims. It aims at ensuring a sustainable and regular dialoguebetween civil society organisations.

Ensuring an inclusive approach, the e-Platform is open to more participants than the EU Civil Society Platform[6],hence expandingits scopeby creating synergies between a wider range of organisations.

The e-Platform will be hosted and moderated by the European Commission and its content will be linked to the European Commission's policy priorities.

Practical information on the functioning of the e-Platform

The e-Platform will be accessible from the EU Anti-Trafficking website:

Only one access login will be given to each organisation that complies with the eligibility criteria to participate in the e-Platform.To ensure sustainability and coherence in the discussions, it is strongly advised to haveonly one person from each organisation in charge of interacting with the other participants of the e-Platform.
The name of the person in charge and the signature of the legal representative of the organisation areboth compulsory to finalisethe application.

Organisations which already participate in the EU Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings

Participants of the EU Civil Society Platform do NOT need to respond to the present Call for Expression of Interest for the e-Platform.

Nevertheless, they must confirm their interest to be included in the e-Platform, using the document that has been sent directly to them from the functional address of the EU Civil Society Platform. Please note that this step is compulsory in order to receive the access login for the e-Platform. If your organisation is already a participant, but did not receive such document, please contact:.

Eligibility and selection criteria

In order to be eligible, civil society organisations applying to participate in the e-Platform (including human rights organisations, shelters, women and migrants' organisations, trade unions, faith-based organisations, etc.) must comply with the following criteria:

  • Be legally based in one of the targeted countries:
  • one of the 28 EU Member States
  • Albania, Morocco, Turkey and Ukraine (selected neighbouring priority countries)
  • Have demonstrated experiencein one or more of the following: protection and assistance of victims of trafficking in human beings, prevention of trafficking in human beings, or prosecution
  • Be committed to engaging in a respectful and fruitful dialogue within the e-Platform and to contribute to an overall efficient functioning of the e-Platform
  • Beable to raise awareness on issues concerning trafficking in human beings among their own constituency, national, European or international networks
  • Be able to interact in English

Compliance with the criteria above will be examined by the European Commission, which will ensure wide representation in terms of countries, type of organisation,diversity of areas of expertise, in line with the comprehensive approach of the EU policy.

Information on how to apply

When applying, please note that this Call for Expression of Interest is an editable document. Duly complete it, filling in the dedicated spaces, and send it toby the 15th of May 2014.In case of technical problems, please contact . Please note that late applications will not be considered.

Once completed the review of submitted applications, and not later than the 15th of June 2014,all applicants will be notified withthe respective result of the examination.

INFORMATION NOTE

The European Commission would like to informthat the data required to respond to the Call for Expression of Interest to participate in the EU Civil Society e-Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings are collected, organised, recorded, stored and used to contact the applicants.

‘TARGETED CALL OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EU CIVIL SOCIETY E-PLATFORM AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS’

Purpose: The purpose of the collection and processing of personal data is:

1. Examiningcompliance with the eligibility criteria to participate in the EU Civil Society e-Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings

2. Contactingsuccessful applicants.

Data Controller:

Legal Basis: The Legal basis of the processing operation for which the data are intended is Article 5 (a) of the Regulation 45/2001.

Access to the Data:

Data Subjects are informed of the following rights in line with Article 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 of Regulation 45/2001:

Right to access data

Right to block

Right to rectify

Right to erase – The data subjects have the right to have their data erased. This right is applicable if the processing of data is unlawful.

Right to object – The data subjects have the right to object at any time, on compelling legitimate grounds relating to their particular situation, to the processing of data.

Right to obtain notification to third parties

Right to have recourse at any time to the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).

TARGETED CALL OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EU CIVIL SOCIETY E-PLATFORM AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

CALL OPEN TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS FROM THE EU AND FROM FOUR SELECTED NEIGHBOURING PRIORITY THIRD COUNTRIES[7]WHICH ARE NOT ALREADY PARTICIPANTS OF THE EU CIVIL SOCIETY PLATFORM AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

Please send the questionnaire below, duly completed, to the functional mailbox mentioned above, together with the registration certificate of your organisation in your country.

Please note that the list ofparticipating organisations will be made publicly available as participants of the EU Civil Society e-Platform on THB. Please read our Data Privacy Statement.

Select one of the categories under which your organisation is expressing its interest to participate:
Organisation legally based in one the of 28 EU Member States
Organisation legally based in Albania
Organisation legally based in Morocco
Organisation legally based in Turkey
Organisation legally based in Ukraine
1. ORGANISATION
Name of organisation:
Address:
Website:
Date of Registration:
Registration No.:
Registered with:
2. Type of organisation
3. Are the activities of your organisation directed at the:
i. Local level
ii. National level
iv. European level
4. Contact Details of the person who will represent the organisation on the e-Platform
To ensure the continuity of the discussions, we strongly advise you to appoint one person who will be in charge of following up the interactions of the e-Platform.
Title:
Name:
Surname:
Position:
Email: / Email 2:
Telephone No:
Fax:
Address: / Postcode:
City: / Country:
Contact Details of the legal representative of the organisation (If different)
Title:
Name:
Surname:
Position:
Email: / Email 2:
Telephone No:
Fax:
Address: / Postcode:
City: / Country:
5. Organisation’s main activities / mandate
6. Describe your organisation’s commitment and experience with regard to the protection and assistance of victims of trafficking in human beings. Please provide examples.
7. Why do you want to take part to the e-Platform? Please describe your motivation.
8. Provide some suggestions for possible activities, working groups, discussions of the EU Civil Society e-Platform on Trafficking in Human Beings.

By submitting this application, I agree that the information was completed accurately and truthfully to the best of my knowledge.

Yes

Date:

Signature of the legal representative of the organisation:

Stamp of the organisation confirming that the person representing the organisation in the e-Platform is mandated to express the views of the organisation and to represent the organisation in the activities of the e-Platform:

1

[1] In line with the priority countries listed in the Second report on the implementation of the Action Oriented Paper, the Commission would like to invite civil society organisations from the following neighbouring priority countries: Albania, Morocco, Turkey and Ukraine.

[2] Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000/C 364/01), Article 5 - Prohibition of slavery and forced labour, in OJL 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.

[3]European Parliament and Council Directive 2011/36/EU on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting Its Victims, and Replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA, in OJL 101, 15.4.2011, p. 1

[4] Communication, EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012–2016, COM(2012)286

[5]Council Conclusions on the new EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012–2016, 3195th JUSTICE and HOME AFFAIRS Council meeting, Luxembourg, 25.10.2012

[6]Please note that the selection to the e-Platform is not equivalent to a selection in the EU Civil Society Platform. Participation in the EU Civil Society Platform is subjected to a different Call for Expression of Interest and new Calls are not foreseen for the moment.

[7] In line with the priority countries listed in the Second report on the implementation of the Action Oriented Paper, the Commission would like to invite civil society organisations from the following neighbouring priority countries: Albania, Morocco, Turkey and Ukraine.