“Safe Haven” in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

A New Project Launched to Improve Housing Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

Photo: Freepik website

The Association for Combating Human Trafficking and All Forms of Violence Against Women, Atina, in collaboration with partners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and with support from the U.S. Department of State and World Vision International, has launched the project titled “Safe Haven: Expanding shelter resources for Trafficking Survivors in the Western Balkans.”

This project will run from September 1, 2024, to August 1, 2026, and aims to improve the quality and accessibility of housing services for victims of human trafficking in four Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia. The project activities will be coordinated through collaboration with organizations addressing this issue: Mary Ward Loreto (Albania), Fondacija Lara (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Atina (Serbia), and Otvorena porta La Strada (North Macedonia).

The project aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation and develop sustainable solutions in the field of housing for victims of human trafficking. The main objectives of the project include improving the quality and accessibility of housing services through the development of unique, victim-centered solutions; creating sustainable financial plans to ensure the long-term functioning of services; and establishing a functional regional network that will enable the effective referral of victims to appropriate services across all participating countries.

To provide quality services, the project will focus on developing standardized services tailored to the needs of human trafficking victims, enhancing the capacities of service providers through training and skills development, and formalizing partnerships while strengthening cooperation between institutions, service providers, and the private sector.

Additionally, the project will focus on replicating already tested, promising practices that contribute to achieving Western Balkan countries' goals in the fight against human trafficking. The project is also fully aligned with the latest recommendations from the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report), which focuses on improving the protection of human trafficking victims in the region.

Why is this project important?

For victims of human trafficking, safe and stable housing is a crucial step toward recovery and reintegration into society. This project provides physical shelter and lays the foundation for long-term changes through systemic solutions based on the victims' needs. Through regional cooperation and the exchange of resources, the project will contribute to strengthening the entire region's capacity to address human trafficking.

NGO Atina, together with its partners, will continue to fight for the rights and safety of victims of human trafficking, and this project represents a significant step toward building a safer and more just society for all.