UAlg Hosts Victim Support Network Meeting

During the morning, the Restricted Committee of the EME Network met, comprising 12 representatives, including network coordinators, law enforcement authorities and municipal officers, to conduct a strategic analysis of emerging challenges and to align responses at the operational level.

The afternoon session began with the reception of partner organisations, followed by the formalisation ceremony of the Restricted Committee. The welcome address was delivered by the Pro-Rector for SEA-EU, Patrícia Pinto, who provided a brief introduction to the Alliance and framed the objectives of the meeting within the work carried out by the Observatory on Migration and Human Rights. She highlighted the relevance of this SEA-EU body in promoting inter-institutional cooperation, joint mobilisation of knowledge and the development of coordinated responses to strengthen prevention, protection and the dignification of victims.

The programme also included a presentation by Professor Cátia Martins on research developed in collaboration with the University of Algarve, focusing on the prevention and combating of human trafficking. This was followed by an intervention by Maria Salomón, addressing the changes introduced by the new Immigration Law and their operational implications, as well as a presentation on the work carried out by the Multidisciplinary Specialist Teams for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking.

The event was attended by representatives from the following organisations: AIPAR – Association for the Protection of Girls and Families; APF – Portuguese Family Planning Association; APAV – Portuguese Association for Victim Support; Faro City Council; the National Republican Guard; the Criminal Investigation Police; Social Security; the António Aleixo Foundation; the Algarve Local Health Unit; and the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People, as well as other public bodies and civil society organisations that are part of this regional cooperation network.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of inter-institutional coordination and the development of joint responses in the protection of victims and the fight against human trafficking. The participation and partnership of SEA-EU underlined the alignment of this initiative with the work carried out by its Observatory on Migration and Human Rights, strengthening the link between research, public policies and action on the ground.