Human trafficking is one of the most serious forms of human rights violations, and it often remains hidden from public view. That is why every year on 18 October, on European Anti-Trafficking Day, Europe reminds us that it must be tackled together.
The European Commission established this day in 2007 to raise public awareness, improve information sharing and strengthen cooperation among institutions, civil society organisations and other actors working to prevent human trafficking.
What is human trafficking and how is it countered?
Human trafficking involves various forms of exploitation, including sexual and labour exploitation, forced begging and the exploitation of children. Because it often remains hidden, countering it requires timely identification of victims, their protection and support, effective prosecution of perpetrators and international cooperation.
Informing citizens and recognising the signs of exploitation are important steps in preventing this crime and helping those exposed to it.
What do the data from Serbia show?
The situation in Serbia and the challenges in the fight against human trafficking were discussed on 16 October at a conference held by ASTRA – Anti-Trafficking Action at the European House in Belgrade. The data presented at the event point to the need for continuous prevention, better identification of victims and an effective response by the competent institutions.
According to these data, ASTRA received 1,900 calls in 2026 and was in contact with more than 50 potential victims of human trafficking. Of these, 23 people were identified as victims of trafficking, and another 27 as people at high risk. Among them were 31 foreign nationals, and the largest number of cases in that group was linked to labour exploitation.
Seksualna eksploatacija žena i devojčica i dalje je dominantan oblik trgovine ljudima. Podaci o stranim državljanima pokazuju i koliko je važno prepoznati rizike u radnom okruženju, kao i imati dostupne mehanizme za prijavu sumnje na eksploataciju.
Tanja Drobnjak, advokatica i autorka analize, ukazala je da je tokom ove godine zabeleženo 26 sudskih odluka: 16 prvostepenih i 10 drugostepenih. Sve presude bile su osuđujuće, kako za trgovinu ljudima, tako i za posredovanje u vršenju prostitucije. Oko 70 odsto presuda odnosilo se na trgovinu ljudima, a za oba krivična dela efektivna kazna zatvora izrečena je u 75 odsto slučajeva.
Kako Evropska unija pomaže Srbiji?
Evropska unija podržava Srbiju kroz jačanje institucija, unapređenje zakonodavstva, obuku stručnjaka, prevenciju i zaštitu žrtava, kao i regionalnu policijsku i pravosudnu saradnju. Cilj je sveobuhvatan odgovor: od sprečavanja eksploatacije i prepoznavanja žrtava do procesuiranja počinilaca i dugoročne podrške osobama koje su preživele nasilje i iskorišćavanje.
Važan primer je projekat „Jačanje delovanja u borbi protiv trgovine ljudima u Srbiji“, u okviru kojeg su Evropska unija i Savet Evrope pružili pravnu ekspertizu i tehničku podršku u pripremi novog Zakona o sprečavanju i suzbijanju trgovine ljudima i zaštiti žrtava. Zakon stupa na snagu 1. januara 2027. godine.
Projekat vredan milion evra sprovodi se od 2023. do 2026. godine u okviru zajedničkog programa Evropske unije i Saveta Evrope „Horizontal Facility za Zapadni Balkan i Tursku“. Usmeren je na prevenciju, prepoznavanje i zaštitu žrtava, krivično gonjenje počinilaca i bolji pristup pravdi. Kroz obuke, praktične alate i saradnju institucija i civilnog društva jača kapacitete policije, tužilaštva, pravosuđa i inspekcije rada. Posebna pažnja posvećena je sprečavanju radne eksploatacije i trgovine decom, kao i zaštiti osoba u riziku, uključujući žene i pripadnike romske zajednice.