Citizens' Association Atina invites you to join BLUE HEART Campaign and mark July 30, World Day against Trafficking in Persons. On this occasion, on Zemun quay (near the restaurant ‘Venecija’) from 10am to 8pm, NGO Atina will exhibit unique handmade jewelry, which is created by the beneficiaries of Atina’s program. By purchasing this jewelry, you are helping victims of human trafficking, girls and women, gain self-respect, hope and the ability to create again.

Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations designated July 30 as World Day against Trafficking in Persons, to raise awareness about this problem in global public. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) designed an action that seeks to encourage people around the world, especially youth, to express not only solidarity with the millions of victims of human trafficking, but also to provide support that would give them back what was stolen from them - hope. UNODC is committed to launching a mass activity on social networks using the hashtag #igivehope which should serve as a warning to society, but what is even more important as support to those who have survived a situation of human trafficking. BLUE HEART has become a symbol of solidarity with the victims around the world, but also a call to all the states to give their best in suppressing human trafficking and punishing the perpetrators of this serious crime.

Human trafficking is a global problem and one of the most perfidious forms of crime in the world that affects the lives of millions of people around the world and robs them of their dignity. Victims of human trafficking can be women, children and men, forced or deceived into prostitution, as well as any other form of labor or services, such as for example, workers kept in homes, or on farms, forced to work against their will. According to data of the United Nations, about 600,000 women, children and men find themselves in a situation of trafficking each year.

Fight against human trafficking is not solely the responsibility of governments. Anyone can contribute to solving this crime by launching an avalanche of small, but significant, actions that provide hope and assistance.

There are many ways you can help, and some of them are:

• Give support: Join international #igivehope campaign on social networks, and thousands of others, in showing your solidarity with the victims of human trafficking.

• Be careful: If you notice anything that, in your opinion, might be related to human trafficking, report it to NGO Atina’s hotline +381 61 63 84 071.

• Become involved: Inform on what has been done in your community so far, check what you can do to encourage people close to you and your acquaintances to become more aware of human trafficking. This is a problem that concerns us all.

• Volunteer: Join actively through volunteering that allows you to engage in community service work and become an active participant in resolving the problem of vulnerable groups, in changing and improving local community and society.

• Be aware: Join “Blue Heart” Campaign against human trafficking and learn more about it by visiting the website unodc.org/blueheart. This international initiative work to raise awareness of the plight of victims and strengthen support in the fight against those responsible for human trafficking. Follow “Blue Heart” on Twitter (twitter.com/BlueheartHT) and Facebook (facebook.com/BlueheartHT) for updates and news about this issue.

• Inform yourself: This is a serious social problem which requires continuous attention of general public, and only through constant informing we will manage to jointly end modern slavery that is a shame of modern society.

• Be compassionate: You can donate to United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for victims of human trafficking (unodc.org/unodc/human-trafficking-fund.html) which funds specialized civil society organizations working with survivors of this type of crime. In addition to global donations, you can donate your time and energy through volunteer work, buy handmade jewelry created by NGO Atina’s beneficiaries, bring your clothes and books for the victims of human trafficking to NGO Atina, or buy a bagel at Bagel Bejgl shop - social enterprise which directs all profits to reintegration programs for the victims of human trafficking. There are many ways to help, all you need is good will.

• Be responsible: Make sure that your choice and activities as a consumer are ethical. You can make a commitment not to buy goods and services that can, directly or indirectly, be linked with sexual exploitation, forced labor or other forms of exploitation.