Safeguarding in practice: The Canadian Ambassador visits NGO Atina

H.E. Michelle Cameron, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, visited the NGO Atina and met with our director, Marijana Savić, as well as the team that provides daily support to women and other individuals who have survived human trafficking and various forms of exploitation.

The fight against human trafficking and gender-based violence is an important area of cooperation between Serbia and Canada, particularly in strengthening systems of support for victims. The Ambassador’s visit to NGO Atina was a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and deepen partnership in the areas of prevention, protection of vulnerable groups, and human rights. We believe that meetings like this help develop more effective and sustainable support mechanisms, placing the safety, dignity, and long-term recovery of survivors at the centre.

In our meeting with Canadian representatives, we discussed how protection systems can be improved by learning from practice and experience, and how international cooperation can deliver concrete value to Serbia, especially in protecting women and other vulnerable groups. We addressed the key issues that define “safeguarding in practice” today: rising migration and the growing risks of labour exploitation, the barriers faced by foreign women in Serbia, and the need for a system that responds quickly, consistently, and in ways that build trust, from first contact and safety assessment to long-term recovery and reintegration. A particular focus was placed on trauma-informed and gender-sensitive approaches across all stages of support, because without them, investigations often remain without testimony, and survivors without effective protection.

Canada was also cited as a key reference for understanding the long-term consequences of conflict and as an example of how institutions can evolve and improve their practices, highlighting that safeguarding systems continually develop and adapt to new challenges, including those in Canada.

We also created space to discuss values and broader social trends: Canada was described as a society where the values of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) remain in place, even if they are sometimes expressed differently due to various pressures. This shows that even stable systems adjust how they communicate, without abandoning their substance.

In her mandate in the region, Ambassador Cameron is particularly committed to advancing gender equality, protecting vulnerable groups, and strengthening cooperation between institutions and civil society. For us, it was especially important to learn from the Canadian approach, which recognizes the value of coordinated institutions; state investment in direct support for survivors and programmes led by civil society organizations; the prevention of labour exploitation and the protection of migrants and temporary foreign workers; and strong partnerships with civil society.

Ambassador Cameron has more than two decades of professional experience in foreign policy, international cooperation, and capacity-building programmes to combat crime and protect human rights. Before entering public service, she worked in education and entrepreneurship. In her current mandate in the region, she particularly supports initiatives that advance gender equality, protect vulnerable groups, and strengthen cooperation between institutions and civil society organizations.