Macao Daily News ── Legal Tips
Combating the Crime of Trafficking in Persons --- Rights of Victims

NO. 1208 ── Published in newspaper on 16.10.2022

　　To strengthen the protection for victims of the crime of trafficking in persons, Law 6/2008 on Combat the Crime of Trafficking in Persons establishes a series of rights for victims, including providing them with necessary social and economic assistance, and ensuring their accesses to necessary and appropriate legal, psychological, medical, medication and accommodation assistance. The specific provisions are as follows:

• （1） to communicate immediately with the embassies, consulates or official representative offices of their countries or regions of origin;
• （2） to join the judicial proceedings as assistants and civil parties;
• （3） to obtain compensation for losses and damages in accordance with applicable laws;
• （4） to be provided with appropriate protection;
• （5） to remain in the Macao Special Administrative Region during all measures related to the crime of trafficking in persons of which they are the victims;
• （6） to be provided with legal protection, including legal counselling and legal aid;
• （7） to be assisted by an appropriate translator or interpreter throughout the course of the judicialproceedings whenever they do not know or do not speak any of the official languages of the Macao Special Administrative Region;
• （8） to obtain socialassistance from the Social Welfare Bureau, in particular, the necessary social assistance to return to their countries or regions of origin, if it is proven that they lack economic and social criteria;
• （9） to receive free psychological, medical and medication assistance under Decree-law 24/86/M, of 15 March, with necessary adaptations and other applicable laws;
• （10） to be provided with protection of confidentiality in the course of judicial proceedings and administrative procedures related to the crime of trafficking in persons.

Note: The content of this article has references primarily to Article 6 of Law 6/2008 on Combat the Crime of Trafficking in Persons.

(This article was contributed by the Legal Affairs Bureau)

Note: Please indicate “This article was contributed by the Legal Affairs Bureau” in the publication.

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