Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Roma health mediators across Serbia are better equipped to recognise early signs that a child or family may be at risk of trafficking and know where to turn for help, following a capacity building session focused on preventing trafficking in human beings.

With regular access to Roma communities and direct contact with children, women and families, Roma health mediators can play an important role in identifying vulnerabilities early. Thirty mediators strengthened their practical knowledge of trafficking risks, warning signs and appropriate responses, including how to use available support and referral mechanisms.

According to data from the Centre for Human Trafficking Victims’ Protection, 75 victims were formally identified in Serbia in 2025, including children in 41% of cases. Identified forms of exploitation included labour and sexual exploitation, as well as forced marriage, forced begging and forced criminal activities.

The session was opened by Nenad Simić, National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator, who highlighted the importance of strengthening prevention and early identification of trafficking, particularly among children and communities exposed to increased risks of exploitation.

The session was facilitated by national experts Marijana Savić and Lidija Đorđević from the civil society organisation Atina, with contributions from representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and the Centre for the Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings.

The activity was organised by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Interior and the Action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia”, implemented within the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and contributes to the implementation of Serbia’s Action Plan 2024–2026 for the implementation of the Programme for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2024–2029.

The training also responds to GRETA’s recommendation to further involve Roma health mediators in the prevention and detection of trafficking in Roma communities and strengthen their capacity through targeted training.