Director of the NGO Atina Marijana Savić with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at the State Department (Photo: REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

Marijana Savić, the director of the NGO Atina and a women's and human rights activist, has received an award from the U.S. State Department for her contributions to the fight against human trafficking.

The award was presented to her on Monday by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who introduced this year's report on human trafficking at the State Department.

"She is recognised for her proven engagement in combating human trafficking in Serbia, her tireless efforts to achieve sustainable solutions, her insistence on victim-centred approaches, her prioritisation of the vulnerable and innovation in work, and her promotion of long-term economic integration for victims to prevent re-victimization" was highlighted at the State Department before the award ceremony.

"This is a significant recognition for our work and decades-long engagement with this issue," Marijana Savić told Voice of America, one of 10 worldwide honoured by the State Department.

The recognition from America contrasts with the treatment by the Serbian state, according to the director of this NGO.

Marijana Savić explains that the state often seeks help and expertise from civil society organisations – which work directly with human trafficking victims on the ground but do not help these organisations sustain their programs financially.

"This job cannot be done without partnerships. We have partners in state institutions regarding professionals who do fantastic work, are passionate and know what to do. The problem is that we essentially have a collapsed state; we do not have trustworthy institutions that plan their activities, stick to plans, and fund activities to meet the needs of citizens. That is the key problem – it is not a problem with the people who work there, but it is a problem with the collapsed institutions," says Savić.

Serbia, as stated in the current State Department report on combating human trafficking, "avoided regression to tier three" and is stagnating.

However, it is noted that further monitoring of the situation is necessary. The report also states that the Serbian government does not fully meet the minimum standards for combating human trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.

The Director of Atina warns that next year is crucial for improving the fight against human trafficking.

"I sincerely hope, after this report and the dialogues we have had, that they will recognise all of us as partners and that we will work together over the next year – and the next year is critical because if we do not make some change, we will be negatively assessed, we will lose access to various funds, meaning our citizens will lose access, those women, those girls who were exploited. So, I hope there will be political will to take big steps and return to improving mechanisms."

Action is needed on various fronts, from preventing human trafficking to prosecuting those responsible. Additionally, as noted in the State Department report, new trends are emerging in the labour and sexual exploitation of immigrants coming to Serbia from poor or war-torn countries. Among the victims are children under 14 years old, both girls and boys.

"We have mechanisms to address many of these things. But first, we must take responsibility for it because without taking responsibility and understanding the consequences of inaction, we will not get anywhere. And, of course, it restores trust and the law in institutions. That is key," concludes the U.S. State Department award recipient.

The NGO Atina has been focused on the comprehensive social inclusion of victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation for more than two decades.

It provides medical, psychological, and legal assistance; support in education and resolving civil status; temporary accommodation, family counseling and mediation; economic empowerment programs; and works in self-support groups as assistance through educational and other workshops.

You can watch the recording of the award via the link:  https://www.glasamerike.net/a/7668293.html

You can find the original text on the website: Stejt department nagradio aktivistkinju iz Srbije za doprinos u borbi protiv trgovine ljudima (slobodnaevropa.org)