2024 Trafficking in Persons Report Released: Serbia on the Watch List

June 24, 2024

Today, the U.S. Department of State released the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which provides an annual overview of the state of efforts to combat human trafficking in 188 countries and is one of the most essential reports in this field.

The Republic of Serbia has been on the Watch List for the third consecutive year. However, due to certain efforts made in combating human trafficking, it has not been downgraded to the lowest level (Tier 3).

According to the report, the Serbian government has yet to show an overall increase in efforts compared to the previous reporting period. The number of investigated suspects has decreased, and traffickers have been prosecuted for lesser offences. The government did not provide financial support to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) despite their significant role, sometimes being the sole providers of support to victims.

The Center for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking continues to suffer from a lack of staff, knowledge, and resources necessary for consistently identifying victims, referring them for recovery, and operating its shelter, which temporarily ceased operations due to not meeting sanitary standards.

Although prosecutors granted "particularly vulnerable witness" status to more victims, implementation and access to justice remained insufficient, including a lack of privacy protection measures for victims, legal representation, and a victim-centred approach.

The government did not provide specialised support for child victims, and authorities continued to penalise victims with prison sentences, probation, and fines for illegal acts committed as a direct result of human trafficking.

Although the government adopted the National Plan of Action (NPAP), it did not fully take into account feedback from international organisations and civil society, superficially addressing critical issues of victim protection, and civil society criticised the government for pressuring one of the trafficking victims to participate in the drafting process.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Combating Human Trafficking did not fully achieve cooperation and coordination with civil society in anti-trafficking efforts. The government did not continue a full investigation into credible allegations that about 500 workers from Vietnam and 14 workers from India were subjected to forced labour in a factory owned by the People's Republic of China (PRC), instead claiming that these workers were not victims of human trafficking.

Because the government dedicated sufficient resources to drafting a plan document in combating human trafficking, which, if implemented, would represent significant efforts to meet minimum standards, an exception was made, and Serbia was not downgraded to the lowest Tier 3 level.

Each year, the U.S. State Department honours prominent individuals worldwide who fight to end human trafficking. One of this year's TIP HERO award winners is Marijana Savić from ATINA, one of the two longest-standing civil society organisations in Serbia. ATINA provides services and support to persons at risk and victims of human trafficking.

You can read the original text on the ASTRA NGO website: Predstavljen Izveštaj o trgovini ljudima Stejt Departmenta za 2024: SRBIJA I DALJE NA LISTI ZA POSMATRANJE (astra.rs)