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Preventing child trafficking through age assessment of children at risk

Children, especially in the context of mixed migration flows, who are not in possession of any identity documents are exposed to a higher risk of human trafficking and exploitation. To provide them with appropriate shelter and protection services, their age must be established according to age assessment procedure and methods which respect the best interests of the child. To address such matters the joint European Union and Council of Europe action "Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings in Bosnia and Herzegovina" organised a first training on preventing child trafficking through age assessment of children at risk on 26-27 July 2022, in Konjic.

Thirty-one participants, representatives of the border police, the Service of Foreigners’ Affairs, the Sector of Asylum and the Sector of Immigration within the Ministry of Security of BiH, the Ministries of Internal Affairs at all levels, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare, Centres for social work) discussed with experienced trainers and the State Anti-trafficking Coordinator Samir Rizvo, risk factors and indicators of child trafficking, the role of law enforcement agencies in the prevention of child trafficking and the identification of cases, the  "social interview" as a model procedure implemented in BiH to assess the age of children.  The age assessment procedure is of a strategic cross-cutting concern as it is equally relevant and important for child protection, migration management and anti-trafficking strategies. 

This training session contributed towards a better understanding by law enforcement officials of the phenomenon of child trafficking and the importance of a timely and well-coordinated age assessment of potential victims. The participants received the recently published study “Assessing the age of children at risk of trafficking in human beings in Bosnia and Herzegovina” which reviews the applicable legal and institutional frameworks and suggests strengthening the current age assessment procedure in BiH in accordance with international and European standards.

This event was organised in the framework of the action „Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ and is implemented under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme „Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022“.

Konjic 26-27 July 2022
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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 third phase of the programme is worth €41 million (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).

This website was produced with the financial support of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of either party.

*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.