Back Serbia strengthens its legal framework against trafficking in human beings

Belgrade 27 August 2026
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Serbia strengthens its legal framework against trafficking in human beings

Serbia is advancing the fight against human trafficking with the adoption of the Law on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting Victims which will enter into force on 1 January 2027.

This legislative development marks a major milestone in aligning national legislation with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, the European Union acquis and other relevant international standards.

Throughout the drafting process, the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia”, implemented under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkiye", provided legal expertise and technical support. The Council of Europe remains committed to supporting Serbia in the effective implementation of the new law.

Horizontal Facility III

The joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative, running from 2023 until 2026. The programme covers actions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

The envelope of this facility amounts to ca. 41 million EUR (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE).

Find out more about the Horizontal Facility III programme >>

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.