Biography of Marijana Savic, NGO Atina’s founder and director 

Marijana Savić is a Serbian activist, founder and executive director of NGO Atina, an organization dedicated for over 22 years to providing direct and long‑term support to survivors of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and gender‑based violence in Serbia. Atina envisions a society in which women and girls are empowered to claim their rights and live free from violence and exploitation. 

Early Activism

Born in the former Yugoslavia, in today’s Serbia, Marijana’s experiences during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s inspired her commitment to combating violence. She was active in civil and peace protests during that period, and from the early 2000s, she focused her work on women's rights and the LGBTQ+ community. Early in her activism, she coordinated a national campaign, “Initiative Against Misogyny in Media,” and from 2001 to 2003, she worked in the National Assembly during the government of Zoran Đinđić. Soon thereafter, she founded NGO Atina with the mission of supporting women and girls who survived human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and gender‑based violence. 

Growth of NGO Atina

Under Marijana’s leadership, Atina has developed a comprehensive approach based on principles of equality, dignity, and sustainability, setting new standards in the region for combating violence against women. Atina's work goes beyond victim protection to transforming societal norms, with solidarity, equality, and human rights at its core. 

As part of the organization’s work, she established the first safe house in Serbia, which to this day provides a secure space for girls and women who are survivors of human trafficking from across the country. Recognizing that survivors have many needs, Atina also runs a Reintegration Centre and a Field Support Team covering the entire country. Its services include legal advocacy, psychosocial counseling, medical assistance, assistance with official documents, educational support, employment training, family mediation, and support in other areas relevant to the full recovery and integration of survivors. Atina is exceptionally dedicated to working with children and youth, providing support to girls who have experienced violence or are at risk of exploitation, helping them to recognize their rights and find a safe path toward the future.

Education and expertise

Marijana holds a law degree and completed gender studies and research in Belgrade. In 2018, she became an alumna of the Human Rights Advocacy Program (HRAP) at Columbia University, New York. She regularly delivers training within Serbia and internationally - for police officers, prosecutors, judges, social workers, and other specialists - to improve recognition and response in human trafficking and gender‑based violence cases. She has also consulted with the Council of Europe and trained labor inspectors in identifying labor exploitation as a form of trafficking. Marijana has substantial experience in policy analysis and legislative advocacy, particularly for women’s and children’s rights, victim protection, and strengthening institutions dealing with human trafficking. 

Establishment of the women’s social enterprise Bagel Bejgl

In 2015, Marijana founded Bagel Bejgl, a women‑led social enterprise aimed at enhancing the sustainability of Atina and facilitating the economic empowerment of trafficking survivors in Serbia. It provides skills training, employment opportunities, and paths toward financial independence. The profits are reinvested to support Atina’s victim assistance programs. Bagel Bejgl has become a model of sustainability and social innovation. Its impact has been recognized through awards such as the WeEmpower UN SDG Award (2018) and the Council of Europe Development Bank Award for Social Cohesion (2023). This award is especially significant for the entrepreneurial initiative Bagel Bejgl, as its profits are used to fund support programs for victims of human trafficking led by Atina. The award is granted for outstanding contributions to social cohesion, as well as for initiatives that recognize and address various social issues and contribute to their resolution in innovative and effective ways.

International recognition & awards

Due to her leadership and achievements, Marijana has been honored with numerous awards: With and For Girls Award (2015), Hyatt Thrive Leadership Award (2016), and Child10 Award (2022) for her work protecting children from exploitation. Marijana has been included in lists of global human rights champions, including Forbes list of inspiring women, UNFPA’s “Four Women Activists You Should Know”, and “50 years of people changing the world.” 

She was awarded the TIP Hero Award (Hero in the Fight Against Human Trafficking) by the U.S. State Department in 2024, as well as the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights. That same year, she was appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (UNVTF). She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Fund for Children (USA) and a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Equality Fund (Canada) for ESG investing.

Commitment and Vision

Marijana Savić remains deeply committed to Atina’s mission: preventing violence, providing support to survivors, and advocating for systemic solutions that address root causes like poverty, gender inequality, and lack of access to justice. Under her leadership, Atina continues to blend direct service, advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and policy reform to build a more just, dignified, and safe society.