Offense of organizing illegal migration: subject of the offense

Abstract

The fight against trafficking of migrants is a common international concern that ensures the protection of the rights not to be subjected to slavery and conditions similar to slavery. This article deals with the subject of the crime of organizing illegal migration. Particular attention is paid to the status of the migrant, who under certain conditions can be considered the subject of the crime under consideration. In the Republic of Moldova, the trafficking of migrants is protected by the crime of “organizing illegal migration”. Paragraph 4 of Article 3621 of the Criminal Code, exonerates the migrant from criminal liability for the act prejudicial to the organization of illegal migration. However, the issue arises when the migrant is the object of the crime within the meaning of the Protocol against Trafficking of Migrants. The article analyzes the special quality of the subject of the crime and of the beneficiaries of international humanitarian protection. In the author’s opinion, there are many questions that need to be elucidated, such as: who is the subject of the crime? How old is he/she? What is the special subject of the crime, and what are the conditions when the migrant can be prosecuted? In the author’s view, in order to avoid violations of migrants’ rights, the Moldovan legislature must strengthen its position on the protection of migrants’ rights so that the national criminal law (which responsibly ensures the protection of migrants’ rights) complies with the Additional Protocol on Trafficking of Migrants, having as material object the migrant’s body (material object).