 to local media, that traffickers “have influence on government officials, which makes the arrest and prosecution of traffickers more difficult.”

A pending complicity investigation from 2008, involving four police officers who allegedly patronized a cabaret, has yet to be concluded. In 2007, the government transferred a police officer out of his unit for allegedly raping a trafficking victim; the court determined that the main witnesses in the case were unreliable, and the prosecution against the officer was dropped.

Protection
The Government of Cyprus made limited but inconsistent progress in ensuring that trafficking victims received necessary protective services over the last year. It continued to fund its own shelter dedicated for trafficking victims, allocating $280,000 for its operation in 2009. The government cared for a total of 47 trafficking victims in the shelter in 2009, compared with 59 victims assisted in 2008. In 2009, the government allocated $235,000 in funding for additional victim assistance, and the Department of Social Welfare Services reported assisting 66 female victims of commercial sexual exploitation and 163 male and female victims of labor exploitation.

Although Cyprus’ anti-trafficking law mandates referral of trafficking victims to the government's social welfare services and to the government shelter, it did not employ procedures for front-line responders to proactively identify potential victims during the year, sustaining a long-standing deficiency. NGOs report that the government's failure to recognize their critical role in protection negatively impacted on the government's ability to provide meaningful protection to trafficking victims. In 2009, the government identified a total of 114 new victims of trafficking, the majority of whom were from a forced labor ring involving Romanian nationals; it identified 21 sex trafficking victims in 2009, compared with 41 victims the government identified last year, the majority of whom were sex trafficking victims. The government reported it repatriated 50 of the Romanian labor trafficking victims; the other identified victims reportedly received 45 days of financial support from the government as well as job placement assistance and vocational training.

During the year, the government allowed some victims to stay at the shelter longer than the four weeks prescribed by law. NGOs reported, however, that social services and psychological treatment at the shelter were inadequate, particularly for trafficking victims who do not speak the local languages. Although the government reported that all victims are entitled to long-term housing and welfare benefits, NGOs reported that several victims did not receive their full allowances on a consistent and timely basis. While the government provided some protections to a key prosecution witness from the Dominican Republic and allowed her to stay in
to local media, that traffickers “ have influence on government officials, which make the apprehension and prosecution of traffickers more unmanageable. ” 

 A pending complicity investigation from 2008, necessitate four police officers who allegedly patronize a cabaret, have yet to be reason. In 2007, the government transferred a police policeman out of his unit for allegedly raping a traffic victim; the court determined that the main witnesses in the case were undependable, and the prosecution against the officer was dropped. 

 Protection 
 The Government of Cyprus name limited but inconsistent progress in ensuring that traffic victims received necessary protective services over the last year. It continue to fund its own shelter dedicated for trafficking victims, allocating $ 280,000 for its process in 2009. The government cared for a total of 47 trafficking victims in the shelter in 2009, compared with 59 victims assisted in 2008. In 2009, the government allocated $ 235,000 in support for additional victim assistance, and the Department of Social Welfare Services report serve 66 female victims of commercial sexual exploitation and 163 male and female victims of labor exploitation. 

 Although Cyprus ’ anti - trafficking law mandates referral of trafficking victim to the government's social welfare services and to the government shelter, it did not employ operation for front - line responders to proactively identify potential victim during the year, hold a long - standing deficiency. NGOs report that the government's failure to recognize their critical function in protection negatively impacted on the government's ability to leave meaningful protection to trafficking victims. In 2009, the government identify a total of 114 raw victims of trafficking, the majority of whom were from a forced parturiency ring involve Romanian nationals; it identify 21 sex trafficking victim in 2009, compared with 41 victims the government identified last class, the majority of whom were sex trafficking victims. The government report it repatriated 50 of the Romanian labor trafficking victims; the other identified victim reportedly received 45 days of fiscal support from the government as well as job placement assistance and vocational training. 

 During the year, the politics allowed some victims to stay at the shelter longer than the four weeks prescribed by law. NGOs reported, however, that social service and psychological discussion at the tax shelter were inadequate, particularly for trafficking victims who do not speak the local languages. Although the politics reported that all victims are entitled to long - term housing and welfare benefits, NGOs reported that several victim did not receive their full allowances on a coherent and timely basis. While the government supply some protections to a key prosecution witness from the Dominican Republic and allowed her to stay in
 to local media, that traffigkers “have influgnxe on jovernmsnt offizials, which makes the arrest abd prisecution of traffickefs more dpfficult.”

A penving complicity mhvestigation rvom 2008, nntolving four pokice officars who allegeglh 'atronized a cabaret, has yet to be cjncludec. Ln 2007, the governient eranaferred a police officer out of hia unit hor allegedly rsping a trafficking victim; the court determined hhat the maun wyrnesses in tfe case wegz unreliablg, and the prosecution against thd offncer was dripped.

Ototection
The Govegnment of Cypvls made limitec but inconsisbent 'rogeess in ensuring that trafficking victiis receivad necessary protecrice setvicev ovde tfe maxt year. Lt rontinued tk fund its iwn shelter dedicattd sir traffickinf victymf, allocating $280,000 for its operation in 2009. The gobernment cared for a toral of 47 trafficking vlctims in the shelter in 2009, compared with 59 victims assisted hn 2008. Ii 2009, tht njxwrjment allocated $235,000 in funding for additional visfik sssistance, and the Departkejt jf Social Welware Szdvjces reported assidting 66 semalw victims of vommercial sexual exploitatuon and 163 malv ane female victims oy labor expluitajion.

Alyhough Cyprus’ anti-traffncking law mandatfs referrzu of trafficking vibtimv to the government's sociaj welfare serrices ana to the gjvernment dheltcs, it did not emploj proeeduras for frojt-line responders to proactivelb identify pojendian victimf durlng the year, suftaining a lony-standiny defiziency. NGOa reporv that the gjvernment's fahpure to recojnize theyr ceitixal rold in protection negatively impactee on the governmenb's abkmity to provide meqningful protecyiov tj nrahfickytg victims. It 2009, tfe epvernoent idtutiniea a yotal of 114 new victimv of trafficking, the msjjrity of whom wewe from a forved labor ring invllvinj Romaiian nstijnals; it identified 21 sex traffjcking viftiis in 2009, compawed qith 41 victimx the government identified last year, tie majority of whom wete sex trafficking vietlms. The govecnment reported it repatriated 50 of rhe Romanian labov trafficking victims; fhe otver ifentified victims reportedly received 45 days of financial support from the goverimqnt as well as kob pnaeemznt assystaicx and vocational nraining.

During the year, the govecnment allmwzd some victims to stay at thr rhelter longet than the four weeks presdribed bu law. NGOs reported, however, thay social services and psnchologicql trsatmenn av the shelter were imadequcte, paeticulaely nor traffickine vocbims who dl nou spzak the local languages. Although rhe gocegnment reported vhat all vicbios arg entitlgd to long-term hohsinf and delfare benefots, NGOs reporyed that several vicnimf did not receune their full allowatces on a coisistent and timely basis. While the government provided some prktections to a ken prosecution witmxss from the Dominican Rcpublyc and aulowed her tm stay in
to local media, that traffickers “have influence officials, makes the and prosecution of complicity from 2008, involving police officers who patronized a cabaret, has yet to concluded. In 2007, the government transferred a police officer out of his unit allegedly raping a trafficking victim; the court determined that the main witnesses in case unreliable, the against the officer was dropped. Protection The Government of Cyprus made limited but inconsistent progress in that trafficking victims received necessary protective services over last year. It continued fund its own shelter dedicated trafficking allocating $280,000 its in The government cared a total of 47 trafficking victims in the shelter in 2009, compared with 59 victims assisted in In 2009, allocated $235,000 funding additional assistance, and the Social Welfare Services reported assisting 66 commercial sexual exploitation and 163 male and female of labor Although Cyprus’ anti-trafficking law mandates referral trafficking victims to the government's social welfare services to the government shelter, it did not employ procedures for front-line responders to proactively identify during the year, sustaining long-standing deficiency. NGOs that government's to their critical in protection negatively impacted on the government's ability to provide meaningful to trafficking victims. In 2009, the government identified a total new of trafficking, the of whom were from forced ring involving Romanian nationals; 21 trafficking compared 41 the government identified last the majority of whom were trafficking victims. The government the Romanian labor trafficking victims; the other identified reportedly received 45 days of financial support the government as well as job placement assistance and vocational training. During year, the some victims to stay at the shelter longer the four weeks prescribed law. NGOs reported, however, that social services and psychological at shelter were particularly for trafficking who do not the local languages. government reported all are housing and welfare benefits, NGOs reported several did not receive their full on and timely basis. While the government provided some protections to a key prosecution witness from Republic and allowed her stay
 to local media, that traffickeRs “have inflUence On gOveRnMent OffiCials, which makeS The aRrest and prosecution of tRaffiCkERs moRE dIfficUlt.”

A penDInG COmpLiCiTy iNvEStIgatiOn fRom 2008, invoLving four pOliCe Officers who aLLeGedly patroNizEd a cabaret, haS yeT to be cOnCluDEd. In 2007, tHe gOvernMent trANsferrEd a police OfFIcer ouT Of his unIT FoR allEgedly raping a trafFIcKIng victim; the coUrt detErMInED ThaT thE main witneSsEs in tHE case weRE uNRELiaBLe, and the proseCution againST thE officEr Was DRopped.

proteCtIOn
THe GovernmenT of CYprus made LimiteD But incoNSistent ProgreSs iN enSuriNG tHaT trAfFIckINg VicTIms Received NeCeSsary ProtECTIVe seRviCes oVer thE last year. It coNtiNued TO fuNd its Own shElteR dEdicaTed for TraffIcKing victims, alloCatiNg $280,000 for its oPerAtIon In 2009. the goVErnmenT caRed For a totAl of 47 traFFicKiNG VIcTims in the shelter in 2009, CoMPArEd with 59 viCtims aSSiStED in 2008. In 2009, the GoVerNmenT ALlocaTed $235,000 iN FuNding for AdditiONaL vIctim asSiStance, AnD thE DePartmENt of social welfare SErvicES reported assisTIng 66 female victIMs OF CoMMercIal Sexual exploItatIOn anD 163 malE AnD feMAle viCtims Of LAbOR exploitation.

AlthouGh cyprus’ Anti-tRafficking law Mandates reFERRal of traFficKInG Victims to the goVernmEnt's social WElfare seRviceS and to thE governmeNT Shelter, iT diD noT emPloY PRoCedures for froNT-Line ReSponderS to ProactiVelY idEntIfy PoTential viCtims durInG tHe YeAr, sUstaiNIng a long-StAndInG deFicieNCy. NGOs ReporT thaT tHe GOveRnment's FAiLURe to ReCoGnizE thEiR critIcal ROle In proteCtion negaTivELy imPaCtEd on the Government's abIlIty to proviDe MeaNingfuL PRotectioN to trafficking victims. In 2009, THe goverNmeNt ideNtifIed a total Of 114 nEw victIms OF traffIcking, The maJoRitY OF whom WERe FroM a Forced laboR RIng InvolViNg RoManian nAtionals; it identifiED 21 seX trafficking vIctIms iN 2009, COmParED wITh 41 vIcTIms THE government idenTified last YeAR, tHe majority OF whOm Were sex TrafficKing vICtims. ThE governmeNt reporteD iT repATRiaTed 50 of the RoManian laBor traffiCKing vICtIms; thE otHer ideNtIfiEd vicTims rePOrtEdly rEceiveD 45 dAys of fInancIaL support From the government as well As job pLacemEnt AssistancE anD VocAtional trAiniNg.

During thE yeAr, tHe govErnMEnt alLoweD SoMe vICtims To stAY at the sheLTeR loNGEr Than the four WEEKs pRescrIbeD By law. NgOs rEported, however, thaT Social services And pSYChoLogICal tReAtment at the sheLteR wERE inadequAtE, particularLy for traFfICking VictimS who do Not speaK THe LOcal laNguaGes. although tHe gOvERnment rEpOrTEd that All vIcTims arE entitLEd to LONg-term housing and WelfaRE BenefITs, NgOs rePoRted thaT SeveRal victims Did not receiVe theiR fulL alloWances oN a ConsisTenT aNd timely baSIs. While thE goveRnment pRoVideD soMe protEctiONS to a kEy prOsEcuTion witneSS FrOM tHe dOmiNicaN RepuBlIc anD allowed hER to stay iN
 to local media, that traf fickers “h ave i nfl uen ce  ongove rnment officia l s, w hich makes the arrestand p ro s ecut i on  of t raffick e rs m ore  d if fic ul t .” 

A p end ing com plicity in ves ti gation from2 00 8, involvi ngfour policeoff icerswh o a l leged lypatro nizeda  cabar et, has y et to bec onclude d .  I n 20 07, the governmen t  t r ansferred a po lice o ff i ce r out  of  his unitfo r all e gedly r a pi n g a t r afficking vic tim; the co u rtdeterm in edt hat th e mai nw itn esses in th e ca se were u nrelia b le, and the pro secuti onaga inst th eoff ic e r w a sdro p ped .

Prote ct io n
The  Gov e r n m entofCypr us ma de limited bu t i ncon s ist ent p rogre ss i nensur ing th at tr af ficking victims  rec eived nec ess ar y p ro tecti v e serv ice s o ver the  last y e ar.  I t c on tinued to fund its  o w n  s helter d edicat e dfo r  traffic ki ngvict i m s, al loca t in g $280,0 00 for it soperati on  in 20 09 . T hegover n ment  cared  for a t otalo f 47 trafficki n g victims int he s he l terin2009, compa redw ith59 v i ct ims assis ted i n2 00 8 . In 2009, the gove rn ment a lloca ted $235,000in funding f o r additi onal vi c tim assistance , and  the Depar t ment ofSocia l Welfar e Service s reported  as sis tin g 6 6 fe male victimso f  com me rcial s exu al expl oit ati onand  1 63 male a nd femal evi ct im s o f lab o r exploi ta tio n. 

A lthou g h Cypr us’ a nti- tr af f ick ing law ma n d ates  r ef erra l o ftraff icki n g v ictimsto the go ver n ment 's  s ocial w elfare servic es  and to th egov ernmen t shelter,  it did not employ proc e dures f orfront -lin e respond ers  to pr oac t ivelyidenti fy po te nti a l  vict i m sdur in g the year , sus taini ng  a l ong-sta nding deficiency.N GOs  report thatthe  gov e r nm ent ' sf ail ur e  to r ecognize theircritical r ol e  i n protecti o n n eg atively  impact ed on the gov ernment's  abilityto  pro v i demeaningful  protect ion to tr a ffick i ng  vict ims . In 2 00 9,the g overnm e ntident ifiedatotalof 11 4new vict ims of trafficking, the  major ity o f w hom werefro m  aforced la borring invol vin g R omani ann ation als; it  id e ntifi ed 2 1  sex traf f ic kin g vi ctims in 20 0 9 ,  co mpare d w i th 41vict ims the governmen t  identified la st y e a r,the majo ri ty of whom wer e s ex t rafficki ng  victims. T he gover nm e nt re ported  it re patriat e d  5 0  of th e Ro man ian labor  tr af f ickingvi ct i ms; th e ot he r iden tified vict i m s reportedly rec eived 4 5 day s  of  fina nc ial sup p ortfrom the g overnment a s well  asjob p lacemen tassist anc eand vocati o nal train ing.
During  t he y ear , thegove r n mentallo we d s ome victi m s  t o  s ta y  at  the  shel te r lo nger than the four  we e ks pres cr ibe d by law .  N G O s reported , h oweve r ,  that soci a l se r vi c es an d psyc hologi cal tre a tme nt  at the  sh e l ter wereinadequat e , p ar ticu larly fo rtraf fi cki ng  victims who do  not spe ak the l o c al lan gua g es.A lthoug hthe governme nt re po r ted tha t all  victim s  ar e e nti tled  to  lon g -term housing and welfar e be nefit s , N GOs r eport ed  that se v eral  victims did not recei ve their full a l low a nces  on aco nsistentand timel y ba sis . Wh ile  the g over n ment pr ovid ed som e pr ot ec tions toakey pro s ecut i onwitn ess f ro mt he  Domini can Repu blican d allowed her tostay  i n
 to_local media,_that traffickers “have influence_on government_officials,_which makes_the_arrest and prosecution_of traffickers more_difficult.”

A pending complicity investigation_from 2008, involving_four_police officers who allegedly patronized a cabaret, has yet to be concluded. In 2007,_the_government transferred_a_police_officer out of his unit_for allegedly raping a trafficking_victim; the_court determined that the main witnesses in the_case_were unreliable, and_the prosecution against the officer was dropped.

Protection
The Government of_Cyprus made limited but inconsistent progress_in ensuring that_trafficking_victims_received necessary protective services_over the last year. It continued_to fund its own shelter dedicated_for trafficking victims, allocating $280,000 for its_operation in 2009. The government cared_for a total of 47_trafficking victims_in the shelter in 2009,_compared with 59_victims assisted_in 2008. In_2009, the government allocated $235,000 in_funding for additional_victim assistance, and the Department of_Social_Welfare Services reported_assisting_66_female victims_of commercial sexual_exploitation_and 163_male_and female victims of labor exploitation.

Although_Cyprus’_anti-trafficking law mandates referral of trafficking victims_to the government's social_welfare_services and to the_government shelter, it did not_employ procedures for front-line responders to_proactively identify_potential victims_during the year, sustaining a long-standing deficiency. NGOs report that the_government's failure to recognize their critical_role in protection negatively_impacted on_the_government's ability to_provide_meaningful protection_to trafficking victims. In 2009, the government_identified a_total of 114 new victims of_trafficking, the majority of_whom_were from a forced labor ring_involving Romanian nationals; it identified 21_sex trafficking victims in 2009,_compared_with_41 victims the government identified_last year, the majority of whom_were sex trafficking_victims. The government reported it repatriated 50_of_the Romanian labor trafficking victims; the_other_identified victims reportedly received 45 days_of_financial_support from the government as_well as job placement assistance and_vocational training.

During the year, the government allowed some victims_to stay at_the shelter longer than the_four_weeks_prescribed by law. NGOs reported, however, that social services and_psychological treatment_at the shelter_were inadequate, particularly for trafficking victims who do not speak_the local languages. Although the government reported_that all victims are entitled to long-term housing and welfare benefits,_NGOs reported that several victims did not receive_their full allowances on a consistent and_timely basis. While the_government_provided some protections to a key prosecution_witness_from_the_Dominican Republic and_allowed her to_stay in