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Who we are

01
Our Vision
02
Our values
03
Our principles
04
Our mission
05
Timeline
06
Our team
07
Board of directors

01 Our Vision

PAG-ASA aspires to a society in which the exploitation and trafficking of human beings no longer exists.

As long as this ideal society does not exist, PAG-ASA advocates for a society in which everyone stands against the exploitation of people, in which the exploiters are rigorously condemned by the authorities and where every victim of human trafficking has access to adequate support, so that they have the resources to build a new life. 

02 Our values

  • Equality Equality
  • Transparency Transparency

  • Engagement Engagement
  • Pluralism Pluralism
  • Respect Respect

  • Openness Openness
  • Confidence Confidence

03 Our principles

  • The victim is at the heart of all our activities The victim is at the heart of all our activities
  • Working as part of a network Working as part of a network

  • Holistic and sustainable support Holistic and sustainable support
  • Empowerment and fostering autonomy Empowerment and fostering autonomy
  • Professional discretion and confidentiality Professional discretion and confidentiality

  • Respecting laws and rules Respecting laws and rules
  • Dialogue and active participation Dialogue and active participation

04 Our mission

PAG-ASA is present for all (potential) victims of human trafficking.

This entails two core missions:

The first being to provide quality assistance to victims of human trafficking. This means ensuring our support is tailored to the individual, in the short and long term, and is focused on their recovery and (re)-integration into society.

The second is to actively participate in the fight against trafficking in human beings at the national and international level. This means both cooperating and collaborating with the relevant public services both in the field and at the political level as well as a commitment to awareness-raising, sharing information, training and providing counsel.

05 Timeline

PAG-ASA was established more than 25 years ago. Over the course of these years, certain events have significantly shaped its work.

1992-93

1992-93

  • Publication of the book « They are so sweet, Sir” by the invesitgative journalist Chris De Stoop.
  • This book uncovers the existance of criminal networks in Belgium and the Netherlands that force Asian women into prostitution. The Belgian government, on the initiative of King Baudoin, launched a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the issue. This Commission concluded, among other takeaways, that there was a strong need for specialised support for victims. The goverment appealed to civil society to establish bodies to provide such sepcialised support.
1994

1994

  • Foundation of the association PAG-ASA by several representatives of the world of associations. Among the founding members was Johnny De Mot, who pioneered numerous initiatives in support of society’s most vulnerable.
  • The First Ministerial Order outlines the modalities/details of residential support conveyed for victims of human trafficking and makes up the primary framework of PAG-ASA’s mission.
1995

1995

  • First leglisation that introduces specific forms of human trafficking into the law on foreigners (FR : loi sur les étrangers) (1989) and the Penal Code.
  • King Albert’s visit to mark the opening of our shelter.
  • First victim welcomed at our shelter.
1996-97

1996-97

  • Implementation of non-residential support for victims who no longer stay in our shelter.
  • First Ministerial Directive details the assistance to be provided to victims of human trafficking and gives a broader framework to PAG-ASA’s work/mandate.
  • First criminals are convicted in cases involving victims supported by PAG-ASA.
2001

2001

  • PAG-ASA establishes a ‘transition’ project: providing temporary and intensive support for victims in the non-residential support unit who need it.
  • First civil action for PAG-ASA in a human trafficking trial.
  • PAG-ASA’s first partnershipin a European project. Several others follow.
2003-05

2003-05

  • Ministerial Order further specifies the forms of assistance conveyed upon victims of human trafficking who cooperate with the authorities.
  • 500th victim welcomed !
  • New Law introduces human trafficking as an autonomous offence in the Criminal Code.
2008-10

2008-10

  • Ministerial Order emphasises the multidisciplinary approach required in the fight against human trafficking.
  • Queen Paola visits PAG-ASA. The Queen's firm interest in the issue of trafficking gives a boost to our work.
2011

2011

  • The European Directive 2011 obliges Member States to provide comprehensive assistance to victims of human trafficking. PAG-ASA, as a specialised centre in the field, contributed to the development of this document, which is strongly focused on the procedure for assisting victims in Belgium.
  • PAG-ASA has the opportunity to buy a small property in central Brussels (1000), which, after extensive renovation, offers 4 transit studios for victims.
  • 1,000th victim welcomed !
2014-16

2014-16

  • Queen Mathilde visits PAG-ASA as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of our association.
  • Several ministers visit PAG-ASA to show the Belgian government and Brussels munipiclaity’s support for our work. Ministers include : Geens (Justice), Wilmes (Budget), Fremault (Help to people).
  • A new Ministerial Order reiterates the multidisciplinary approach required for the fight against human trafficking and the role of the 3 existing specialised centres.
  • The inhabitants of the shelter begin their work on the first series of photos for "PHOTO-VOICE". They are exhibited for the first time at the European Parliament, other settings follow.
2018-19

2018-19

  • Several projects have been launched to meet the new needs of our target audience: PAG-ASA café, housing coach, fund for rent deposits.
  • 1,500th victim welcomed !

 

06 Our team

Director

  • Sarah DE HOVRE

Administrative and logistical support

  • Ayten
  • Brahim
  • Cathy
  • Ikram
  • Lirim
  • Nathalie
  • Sylvette

Social workers

  • Aisha
  • Amandine
  • Anne-Sophie
  • Anne Sophie
  • Annelies
  • Arthur
  • Ayako
  • Charlotte
  • Eva
  • Joke
  • Judith
  • Liesbeth
  • Maaike
  • Nathalie
  • Nilo
  • Ruban

Legal support

  • Anna
  • Anne-Marie
  • Enisa
  • Liesbeth
  • Lotte
  • Mari
  • Mary
  • Melanie
  • Mylène
  • Sally

Training and Communication

  • Ilse
  • Mara

Volunteers

  • Alina
  • Amy
  • Bénédicte
  • Karel
  • Katarina
  • Laure
  • Lieve
  • Mike
  • Mourad
  • Roos
  • Teodora
  • Xavier

07 Board of directors

Jozef DE WITTE (President)
France BLANMAILLAND
Linda CONINGS
Johan VANGENECHTEN
Julie LEJEUNE
Representative of the Federal Migration Center Myria

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