By the end of the year the Labour and Social Policy Ministry will open three new centres for aiding child victims of human trafficking.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Emilia Maslarova said the three centres would operate in Pazardzhik, Veliko Turnovo and Pravets. The money for the construction of the first two centres has been provided and works will start within days.

Bulgaria is to follow the example set by foreign institutions, treating children as victims, despite the fact they were forced to commit crimes. The government will also enforce anti-trafficking measures.

Maslarova said new ways of making child trafficking a criminal action subject to prosecution were considered. Aiding the victims was just one aspect of the problem, she added.

Since the beginning of 2006 the Child Protection Agency has refused to issue a document permitting a child leave the country in over 69 cases because of evidence the children were to be exploited by human trafficking rings.

The victims and their families will be granted social and psychological aid. Means of helping the children include consultancy, re-integration into society and rehabilitation treatment.