Protection and Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking in Serbia: Recent Developments

• NCJ Number: 229544
• Journal: European Journal of Criminology Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2010 Pages: 45-60
• Author(s): Biljana Simeunovic-Patic; Sanja Copic
• Date Published: January 2010
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For additional articles in this special issue see NCJ-229541-43 and NCJ-229545-47.

Annotation

This article examines efforts in Serbia to protect, assist, and support victims of human trafficking.

Abstract

The paper reviews recent developments in the system of protection, assistance and support of victims of human trafficking in Serbia. The establishment of the Agency for Co-ordination of Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings in 2003, the issuing of the Instruction on Conditions for Obtaining Temporary Residence Permit for Foreign Citizens Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings by the Minister of Interior in 2004, and the adoption of the Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings in the Republic of Serbia in 2006 are important steps forward. Notable improvement has been achieved in the protection of victims as injured parties/witnesses in criminal proceedings. However, despite the respectable efforts made so far, further improvements to the system and mechanisms of victim protection in Serbia are still needed, particularly in terms of developing support for and protection of child victims. (Published Abstract)