A workshop on conducting forensic interviews with presumed victims of trafficking in human beings for the staff of the Centre for Human Trafficking Victims’ Protection (Centre) was organised on 5-6 March 2024 in Vrdnik, Serbia.  The participants upgraded their knowledge on how to better communicate with vulnerable persons, to establish trust, and avoid further traumatisation.

As one of the crucial actors in fight against trafficking in human beings in Serbia, the Centre has been joining forces with the European Union and Council of Europe under the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia” since 2017. Being the institution that identifies victims of human trafficking, co-ordinates their protection and provides support, as well as shelter for accommodation of women and girls, it is pivotal to have their capacities strengthened.

Only in 2023, the Centre staff had 137 interviews with potential victims of human trafficking and identified 66 victims among them. A well-conducted interview is the pre-condition for an evidence-based opinion of the Centre and an appropriate identification of victims of human trafficking. This workshop contributed to ensure the best possible protection of victims of human trafficking during the identification process. The participants discussed concrete examples of interviews and practiced active listening, observing, taking notes, mistakes to be avoided. 

This activity is based on the conclusions of  the round table held in 2021, and the recommendations from the guidance document “Hearing child victims of exploitation and trafficking and children at risk”, developed under the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings in Serbia”, under the previous phase of the Horizontal Facility programme.

The action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia” is part of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”. It aims at strengthening prevention of trafficking in human beings, identification, and protection of victims of trafficking, prosecution and conviction of traffickers, and access to remedies for victims of trafficking.