Back Roma health mediators strengthen their skills to prevent child trafficking

Zlatibor, Serbia 11 September 2026
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Roma health mediators strengthen their skills to prevent child trafficking

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.

Instrumenti Horizontal III

Programi i përbashkët i Bashkimit Evropian dhe Këshillit të Evropës “Instrumenti Horizontal për Ballkanin Perëndimor dhe Turqinë” (Instrumenti Horizontal III) është një iniciativë bashkëpunimi, që zgjat nga viti 2023 deri në vitin 2026. Programi mbulon projektet në Shqipëri, Bosnjë dhe Hercegovinë, Kosovë*, Mal të Zi, Maqedoninë e Veriut, Serbi dhe Turqi. Ai u mundëson përfituesve të përmbushin axhendat e tyre të reformave në fushat e të drejtave të njeriut, sundimit të ligjit dhe demokracisë dhe të jenë në përputhje me standardet evropiane, që është gjithashtu një prioritet për procesin e zgjerimit të BE-së.

Buxheti i këtij programi arrin në rreth 41 milionë euro (85% financuar nga BE, 15% nga KiE).

* Ky përkufizim është pa paragjykim ndaj qëndrimeve për statusin, dhe është në përputhje me Rezolutën e Këshillit të Sigurimit të Kombeve të Bashkuara 1244/1999 dhe Opinionin e GJND-së mbi shpalljen e pavarësisë së Kosovës.