
Immediate help for trafficking victims, without waiting for a criminal case: what the government-approved bill changes for a border district like Ungheni
The government has approved a package that breaks an old condition: support for trafficking victims will no longer depend on their status in a criminal case — assistance comes as soon as there are 'reasonable indications' that a person was exploited. The bill, drafted by the Ministry of Justice to align the law with a European directive due 15 July 2026, now goes to Parliament. Against this backdrop, Moldova remains on 'Tier 2' in the U.S. trafficking report, with 149 victims identified in 2024 — fewer than in 2023. For Ungheni, a border district on the Prut and on the route of work abroad, the real stake is for protection to reach the villages too, where services arrive with difficulty.