Email this page

News & Updates

Anti-Trafficking Activities Undertaken by La Strada Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH)

Trainings and a conference.

1) Training for State Border Agency Inspectors (SBA).

A training on topic «Tasks of SBA BiH in regard to resolution of criminal act of cross border smuggling of human beings», organized by SBA BiH and La Strada BiH, was held on 10-12 May 2006 in Neum. The training was opened by Mr. Vinko DumanÄ?ić, Director of Central Investigatory Office of SBA BiH. The above mentioned topic was of an utmost importance for the inspectors of SBA, who give their contribution to prevention of such criminal acts and its forms. National Coordinator of La Strada BiH, Mrs. Fadila Hadžić presented the work of  La Strada BiH, stressing the importance prevention of all forms of criminal acts and of creation of a strong civil society, harmonization of the work of law enforcement agencies and their organization, included in the project of prevention of trafficking in human beings and protection of human rights of victims. The following is the list of the topics discussed:

1. Legal characteristics of criminal act of cross border smuggling of human beings-lecturer
Mrs. Jasmina Gafić, Office of the Public Prosecutor of BiH
2. Definition of smuggling in accordance with international conventions
3. Smuggling of human bengs in the concept of Criminal Code of BiH (legal characteristics)
4. Processing of convicts at the State Court of BiH for smuggling of human beings- lecturer, Mr. Salem Miso, judge.
5. The role of the prosecutor in the investigation– lecturer Mr. Božo Mihajlović, Office of the Public Prosecutor of BiH
6. Methodology of discovering and resolution of criminal acts of cross border smuggling of human beings
7. Modus operandi of smuggling of human beings (the role of SBA, Office of Public Prosecutor and State Court of BiH)

Presenting the three level activities of La Strada BiH, National Coordinator, Mrs. Fadila Hadžić, stressed that trafficking in human beings (THB) is generally viewed by SBA from the aspect of migration problems, although they should view it as a problem of organized crime. At the same time, journalists in BiH view it as a sensational news for their headlines, while "La Stradu BiH“ percieves it as a complex problem that certainly concerns every citizen of BiH. It is also the most serious violation of human rights of trafficking victims, which can present as seriously become a threath to public health (like in the case of Olena Popik). From the aspect of SBA, the focus of their interest is on the victims, but not on their "clients/buyers.“ She also stressed that BiH is in a specific position as copmared to countries of origin of trafficked girls. BiH was a country of a high risk, but with development of SBA the problem decreased. Recently the so called internal THB has increased, which means that more and more BiH citizens are trafficked within the borders of BiH. This kind of THB is extremely difficult to spot, since the trafficked persons do not raise suspicion of police, being BiH citizens with regular documents. One of the newest trends is that THB takes place in private flats/houses, far away from the "eyes“ of public, which furtherly complicates assistance to trafficking victims. The aim of La Strada BiH is not to teach SBA how to do their wotk and fulfil their tasks, but to help them free themselves from prejudice towards trafficking victims. After the presentation, representatives of La Strada BiH conducted two exercises, aiming at team work improvement in resolution of  THB cases.



2) Advanced Training for the Representatives of Ministry of Interior, State Investigation and Protection Agency, State Prosecution and NGOs

On 8-19 May 2006 Office of the State Coordinator for anti-trafficking of BiH, OSCE Mission to BiH and La Strada BiH organized a three-week training for the representatives of MoI (Ministry of Interior), SIPA BiH (State Investigation and Protection Agency), State Border Agency of BiH (SBA), Office of the Public Prosecutor of BiH on topic “Investigation on Trafficking in Human Beings without relying on trafficking victims”-multi agency training programme. The training was an extraordinary one, specially designed and realized as a simulation of a case of trafficking in women. All participants had specific roles and assistants were hired to “play” roles of traffickers, mediators and a victim. Their concrete work on the simulated trafficking case started with a suspicious job offer announcement for unemployed young women. The undercover investigator  (the representative of La Strada BiH) reacted to the job offer ad and set an appointment with the “employer.” After that, the entire training was a simulation in which all participants gave their own contribution to a positive resolution of the trafficking case.



3) Counter Trafficking Conference on topic “SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN: JOINT PARENTAL RESPONSE “ Pristine, Kosovo, 5-6 June 2006

The participants were welcomed by Florent Vranica, Head of Office, CRS Kosovo. After the introductory speech regarding the objectives of the Conference, made by Nikolay Ilchev, CRS EME and Larisa Klepac, CRS BiH, the Conference began with the presentation on supporting institutional Framework ( by Habit Hajredini, Kosovo National Coordinator - Advisory Office of Good Governance Prime Ministers Office). Other presentations followed as stated below:

-Human Trafficking Prevention in South East Europe Presentation
UNICEF Kosovo

-CRS/EME  Counter trafficking strategy/goals and objectives
Larisa Klepac, CRS BiH
Shkumbin Arifi’, CRS Kosovo

-Kosovo programme presentation
Union of Parent Teacher Associations Kosovo

-BiH programme presentation
Samir Haljeta, Associations of Parent School Cooperation
Fadila Hadžić, La Strada BiH

-Albania programme presentation/Discussion
Valbona Dafa, Fier Regional Parents Association

-Romania program presentation
Gabriela Chiroiu, Caritas Bucharest

-Macedonia programme presentation
Stojne Atanasovska, Open Gate/La Strada

-International Blue Crescent Human Relief and Development Foundation, Turkey Programme Presentations
Media and Social Marketing on Trafficking Issues, Presentation by Hulya Barbaros
Trafficking on Women: A Major Human Rights Violation, Presentation by Aspa Plakantonaki

The second day of the Conference started with a short revisiting the day one and continued with small group work. The topics discussed in small groups were related to the following issues:

- Situation Analysis related to human trafficking in specific countries/communities (root causes- economic and social)
- Identification of features in common for all participating countries
- Analysis of the previous/ongoing CT activities (including problems encountered and gaps identification)

After the first phase, of the small group work, a representative of each group (selected by the its members) made a short presentations of their results.

Small group work – Second phase
- How the problem and gaps identified can be addressed, both on community-country level and sub-regional level through joint approach
- How sub-regional CT network, including parental structures and local NGOs can be further strengthened
- How the network and joint prevention approach can contribute to sustainable prevention of human trafficking
- Discuss potential joint prevention activities.

Small group presentations

Before the closure of the Conference, some future steps were discussed and conclusions made. More information on the Conference will be available when the organizers finalize the report.