Atina and the Center for Victim Protection against Human Trafficking Strengthen Cooperation: New Models of Assistance and Protection

Atina presented new services and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Center for Victim Protection against Human Trafficking.

A meeting was held in Belgrade on December 26, 2024, as part of the project “Together We Thrive – Supported Housing and Open Club Initiative for the Social Inclusion of Victims of Human Trafficking and Exploitation,” which is financially supported by the European Union. This project, implemented by the Atina with the support of the EU program for social housing and active inclusion, was carried out in cooperation with UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services).

The meeting was attended by 16 participants, eight from the Center for Victim Protection against Human Trafficking and eight from Atina. The objectives of the meeting were multiple: from visiting Atina's new premises, purchased with EU funds, to mutual sharing of information about challenges in daily work, to presenting new services and innovations achieved within the “Together We Thrive” project, as well as signing a Memorandum of Cooperation. This Memorandum covers key principles of joint work and the rights of victims. It also includes Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to all Atina and the Center employees.

Long-term Cooperation Between Atina and the Center for Victim Protection against Human Trafficking

Atina and the Center for Victim Protection against Human Trafficking have been cooperating for many years, with Atina being actively involved in founding the Center in 2012. Through daily cooperation, these two organizations have become key partners in the fight against human trafficking and in providing support to victims. The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation marks a step toward even more intensive collaboration in areas such as the preliminary identification of victims, creation of assessment, and referral, as well as providing direct assistance to victims.

During the meeting, several key challenges faced by these organizations were identified. Among the most critical issues highlighted were:

Lack of adequate expertise: Non-specialized and unprofessional expert opinions often lead to poor judicial decisions and additional trauma for the victims. There is a recognized need for training and sensitization of professionals to avoid harm to victims during proceedings.

Growing number of “stateless children” outside the protection system requires more resources and specialized services. Increasing programs for child victims of various criminal offenses, as well as children in conflict with the law, is of essential importance.

Better education for healthcare workers, particularly regarding the specifics of victims of human trafficking and children facing trauma. The focus should be on providing support rather than stigmatizing or pathologizing these children. The meeting also mentioned an alarming case of child exploitation in one of the licensed services for children leaving the social protection system. The need for monitoring and providing additional support to foster parents, especially those accepting children who are victims of sexual violence, was emphasized.

Support for Victims and Service Sustainability

In the second part of the meeting, special attention was paid to the improvement of support services for victims of human trafficking, especially the development of a sustainable supported housing system led by Atina. Given the importance of economic empowerment and overcoming social exclusion, examples of promising practices were highlighted, such as the referral of potential victims from the Center for Victim Protection to Atina and children at risk of exploitation. The introduction of innovative methods for identifying and supporting victims during the initial monitoring phase, which later led to formal identification, proved highly effective. Also mentioned as a promising practice was a case from Niš, where human traffickers were sentenced to over 50 years in prison. Atina and the Center provided key support to the victim during the process and coordinated recovery efforts, with exceptional support from the prosecuting attorney.

New services were also presented, such as the “Open Club,” which offers measures for the active inclusion of users and new infrastructure for accommodation and support, providing a safe and stable environment for victims of human trafficking.

The meeting concluded positively, with attendees agreeing that the cooperation between Atina and the Center for Victim Protection against Human Trafficking is crucial for further progress. Both organizations' commitment to supporting victims and continuing to develop sustainable and innovative services was praised.

Ultimately, all participants desired stronger cooperation and continued efforts to improve victims' social inclusion and economic independence.