Photo: website Omladinski radio

Protection against discrimination “on hold”

A group of nongovernmental organizations expresses deep concern about the current non-functioning of the anti-discrimination system in Serbia, as the institution of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality is completely blocked due to the failure to timely elect a new Commissioner.

Terms of Reference for the Expert to develop a Feasibility study on the establishment of the Local team for prevention and combating trafficking in persons in the city of Belgrade

Published on June the 1^st, 2020   

Project title: “From Harm to Safety: Improving the Protection of Victims of Trafficking (VoTs) in Serbia”.

The project is carried out by NGO Atina, International Rescue Committee. The project has its approval and funding by the Government of the United States.

ATINA at the SIPRU online conference on “Poverty during the COVID 19 pandemic and in post-crises period in the Republic of Serbia” 

Photograph: Piroshki Photography

The arrest of a Center for Social Work employee from Vranje, who tried to assist an Albanian citizen in adopting a girl from Serbia with falsified documents, once again drew public attention to an increasing number of cases of human trafficking in Serbia. According to Jelena Hrnjak from Citizens Association Atina for combating human trafficking, 60 percent of human trafficking victims in Serbia are children.

When faced with any crisis, fear and anxiety are inevitable, they are normal and natural responses to situations of danger and uncertainty. It is quite easy to get lost in worrying and thinking about different things that we cannot influence, what awaits us in the future, how the virus will affect our loved ones, our community, country or world, what will happen next. And while it is perfectly normal to get lost in such worries and thoughts it is neither useful nor can it help us in any way.

Photo: Dragan Todorović

“An arrest for human trafficking and mediation in prostitution” - not a month goes by without newspaper columns being filled with articles about the exploitation of people, workers, women for the purpose of human trafficking. “Blic” has been exploring this phenomenon, who the most common victims are, but also how we can deal with it as a society.

Working for almost two decades on developing direct support programs for girls and women who have experienced gender-based violence and human trafficking, the key principle that Atina's team is guided by in its work is the principle of full and comprehensive participation. Atina's basic starting point is to create program activities according to the requirements and needs of each girl and woman who is a part of her.

Photo: NGO Atina's archive

Lidija Đorđević from NGO Atina: The voices of women with the experience of violence need to be heard and appreciated. It makes a difference and brings about change.