In the photo: Beba Kanacki, Jelena Matic, Marija Borisenko, Bojana Nakic and Marko Todorovic

European Anti-Trafficking Day Marked in Vranje

On European Anti-Trafficking Day, the annual meeting of Local Anti-Trafficking Teams was held in Vranje on October 18, 2024. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Police Directorate, the Office of the Police Director, and the Office for the Coordination of Anti-Trafficking Activities, in collaboration with the Local Team from Vranje, as part of the EU4fast project "EU Support for Strengthening the Fight Against Smuggling Migrants and Human Trafficking in the Western Balkans."

Nenad Simić, the national coordinator for combating human trafficking, highlighted the critical role of local teams in this fight. Mirjana Nikolić, advisor to the National Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, emphasized the need for legal changes to regulate the area systematically.

Srđan Barac, special advisor to the Minister of Labor, Employment, Veteran, and Social Affairs, pointed out the significance of marking this day as a means of raising awareness and engaging in activities that contribute to reducing human trafficking.

Marko Tanasković from the Coordination Office and Aleksandra Ljubojević, director of the Center for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking, presented the cooperation mechanism and activities carried out during the previous year. Coordinators of local teams from Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and Vranje highlighted the vital role of civil society as close collaborators of local teams. Jelena Anđelić from the Red Cross of Serbia spoke about the functioning of local teams, emphasizing the challenges and providing suggestions for overcoming them.

Bojana Nakić from the NGO Atina stressed the importance of civil society organizations in the fight against human trafficking. As the initiator of establishing the first local teams across Serbia in 2013, Atina is proud that the Local Teams have ensured the initiative's survival. As an organization providing various services to victims, Atina acknowledged the necessity of gathering representatives of the Local Teams, particularly emphasizing the importance of trust-based relationships and active participation. After Bojana's presentation, participants expressed their desire for greater cooperation and involvement in the work of local teams throughout Serbia, recognizing the value of the good practices she shared.