More Effective Response to Human Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence in Migrant Populations

At a recent roundtable organized by the citizens' association "Atina," titled "How to Achieve a More Effective Joint Response to Human Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence in Migrant Populations," 45 representatives from various institutions and organizations gathered to discuss challenges and potential solutions in this critical field. The event was organized as part of the project "Improving Referral and Services for Migrants and Refugees Who Have Survived Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking in Serbia," supported by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Participants included representatives from domestic civil society organizations (Atina, Astra, Ideas, the Center for Crisis Policy and Response - CRPC), international organizations (Council of Europe, Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, Danish Refugee Council, UNHCR, UNWOMEN), institutions (Republic Public Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Center for Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking), diplomatic missions in Serbia (British Embassy, US Embassy, Swedish Embassy), the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, media representatives (Politika, Fonet, Beta), and other individuals, consultants, and experts in the field.

Tamara Urošević, the moderator, introduced the goals and agenda of the meeting, emphasizing that case studies on victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence among migrant populations would be presented, as well as the challenges in identifying and supporting victims. Urošević highlighted the importance of cooperation between different actors to improve the support and protection system. Through case studies, participants were introduced to various victim profiles, types of exploitation they survived, and how they were supported in Serbia. Specific examples and strategies used to provide practical help and support to victims were showcased.

Edward Ferguson, the British Ambassador to Serbia, underscored the significance of regional cooperation in combating human trafficking and violence against migrants, emphasizing the importance of protecting migrant rights for regional stability. "Protecting the rights of migrants is crucial for the stability and security of the entire region," Ferguson said. He also highlighted the UK's commitment to fighting human trafficking and supporting victims through various projects and initiatives. He mentioned that 95% of the thousand illegal migrants using the Western Balkans route come from Turkey, Afghanistan, Syria, and Morocco. Ferguson emphasized that women and girl migrants are particularly vulnerable, and additional efforts are needed to protect and empower them.

Tamara Mirović, a public prosecutor from the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office, spoke about the statistical data on the number of indictments and identified victims, indicating the need for a proactive approach to recognizing and protecting victims. "Training and education of all actors in the system are crucial for the effective identification and support of victims," Mirović emphasized. She also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between human trafficking and smuggling offenses to ensure proper prosecution and victim protection. She noted that in the past five years, the prosecutor's office has filed charges against 630 individuals for illegal border crossing and human smuggling, while 135 individuals have been indicted for human trafficking.

Marijana Savić, director of the citizens' association "Atina," stressed the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in supporting victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence, emphasizing the need for continuous awareness and support for victims. "Trust is built through continuous support and a clear demonstration that the rights of migrants are protected," Savić said. She added, "There are two goals I would set for us today. The first is to assume nothing, and the second is not to miss opportunities." Savić noted that last year, UG "Atina" supported over 700 women through consultations and workshops and referred 18 cases of human trafficking and gender-based violence to the relevant authorities. She also emphasized the need to create flexible mechanisms that can effectively respond to changes in migration flows.

Miroslav Jovanović, a representative of the Center for Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking, highlighted the progress in detecting and supporting victims of human trafficking thanks to the project by UG "Atina." "We have managed to increase the number of identified victims through better cooperation and coordination with various actors," Jovanović said. He highlighted the importance of continuous fieldwork and close cooperation with NGOs to ensure adequate victim support. "Our mission is to provide the best possible support to victims and ensure they receive the justice and protection they need," Jovanović concluded.

Nikola Kovačević, a legal expert from Ideas, pointed out the legal challenges and the need to improve the legislative framework to enable more effective protection of migrants and victims of human trafficking. "The legislative framework must be flexible and adaptable to address all the complexities that human trafficking entails," Kovačević said. He emphasized the need for harmonizing the activities of relevant authorities and cooperation with civil society.

Ahmed Mešić, a prosecutor from Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented the key challenges faced by the judicial system in combating human trafficking in the country. He highlighted the lack of resources and adequate training for prosecutors. "Only through a joint and coordinated approach can we achieve significant results in combating human trafficking," Mešić concluded. He stressed the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of experiences to improve the work of judicial authorities in the region.

Bojana Balević from the Danish Refugee Council spoke about the challenges faced by migrants and refugees in Serbia and emphasized the importance of providing continuous support and protection of their rights. "Migrants are often in very vulnerable positions and need comprehensive support to integrate and protect themselves from exploitation," Balević said. She also noted the need to improve access to information and services for migrants to ensure their rights and safety.

The roundtable concluded with recommendations for improving the support and protection system for victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence among migrant populations. It proposed adopting a proactive approach in investigations, training and educating all actors and developing specific services for different victim groups. The need for improving cooperation between institutions and civil society organizations and building migrants' trust in state institutions was also emphasized.

The event was organized by the citizens' association "Atina" and the British Embassy in Serbia. Representatives from institutions, civil society organizations, international organizations, and diplomatic missions participated.

Recommendations from the Roundtable:

- Greater familiarization of practitioners in this field with international practices, explicitly differentiating between human smuggling and trafficking, prosecuting these offenses, and protecting victims, including knowledge exchange with professionals from other countries in the region and beyond.

- Harmonized actions by relevant authorities, both those involved in criminal prosecution and those providing protection and support to vulnerable groups, to prevent discontinuation of trial and reduce the gap between the number of identified victims and the number of criminal charges filed, which has been pronounced in recent years. This would also minimize the risk of incorrect classification of criminal acts, such as requalification into another criminal offense during proceedings, instead of human trafficking. Requalification has been recognized as one of the challenges in the prosecution of human trafficking for many years in various international reports.

- Continuous training with professionals from relevant institutions, especially from the police and prosecution, due to staff turnover and transfer of jurisdiction within these institutions (e.g., in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, human trafficking was transferred from the Border Police Directorate to the Criminal Police Directorate), as well as to keep up with new trends in these phenomena, including new forms of digital abuse and exploitation on the internet, with training adapted to local contexts.

- Better cooperation between state institutions and civil society organizations and a multisectoral approach in protection and support, especially for particularly vulnerable groups of refugees and migrants during their entire stay in Serbia until their legal status is resolved.

- Conduct vulnerability assessments at entry points during migrant and refugee registration to identify indicators of human trafficking and gender-based violence, as recommended in the latest European Commission's Serbia Progress Report 2023. In this regard, it is necessary to develop indicators for identifying victims of human trafficking in mixed migration flows that can be adapted to changes in the migration flow itself.

- Strengthening the trust of migrants and refugees in state institutions and all other actors present in the field can lead to a higher percentage of self-identification and reporting of human trafficking suspicions by migrants and refugees themselves. This also includes providing appropriate support services for particularly vulnerable refugees and migrants, such as safe accommodation for women victims of violence, which has been challenging so far, as migrant women have not been able to exercise the right to accommodation in state safe houses.

- Applying a proactive and individual approach in each specific case, from taking statements by the police and prosecution to providing support services, is a principle that Atina also applies in its work, guaranteeing that the victim receives all the necessary support according to their needs.