ASTRA Anti Trafficking Action

SOS Hotline +381 11 33 47817E mail: astra@astra.rs Website: www.astra.rs

1.Prevention and Education

2.SOS Hotline and Direct Victim Assistance

3. Networking

4.Research and Reporting

About About ASTRAASTRA

SOS Hotline and Direct Victim Assistance

March 2002 – March 2011. received 12539 calls from 2390 clients

No. of identified victims 351

No. of identified children 44%

Increased No. of Serbian citizens (72.16%), Internal THB (49.58%). Trafficked to Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, Germany,

Sweden, and new destinations (Olympic games, Middle East…)

Mostly women (91%) and children (44%, avr.13 years old) From urban settlements (56%) With less than secondary school (63%) and With previous experience of family violence (51%) Trafficked for the purpose sexual exploitation (67.03%) Other forms of exploitation registered here are labor

exploitation, forced marriage and forced begging. Victims are mostly recruited through job adds and by their

parents and relatives (20%), lover boys (25%), friends (10%) and acquaintances (35%) and employers (10%).

Recruitment through the use of modern technologies (Internet and SMS)

Who are the victims and what are the trends

SerbAz case• Registered in the Netherlands and Panama as offshore

comp.• 600-1000 construction workers from Bosnia, Serbia and

Macedonia in Azerbaijan Gov. construction sites• Recruited and transported by Bosnian citizens through

adds/family/friends • Entered Azerbaijan on tourist visas• No proper living and working conditions, No documents,

No promised payment, No medical treatment, No right of movement

• Singed the paper before leaving (Sept-Dec 2009)• 2 workers died, many of them came back with medical

problems

Challenges Coordination: Large No. of victims placed in 4

countries (IOs, NGOs, Embassies, ITUC) No funds for such a large cases, expensive legal

support Victims/reintegration later problems

(Unemployment Bosnia 40%, Serbia 20%, stereotypes, fear of revenge and for future employment)

Denying THB and Referral of responsibility by Governments

No cooperation between governments (Rantzev case in Strasbourg Court)

Legislation UN Convention on THB EU Convention on THB ILO Conventions 29, 105 National laws on THB

Where are we now Azerbaijan 2 court cases Supreme Azer Court charging the General Prosecutors Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs

of the Republic of Azerbaijan to take a relevant procedural decision The Sabail District Court has dismiss the case against “Serbaz Layihe ve Tikinti” LLC about the

claim of fines because of failing to pay salaries on time and caused material and moral damages

Serbian prosecutor (after 1 year) remit the case to Bosnian prosecution office (12 statements)

Investigation going on in Bosnia (2 years) Still no prosecution and punishments for

traffickers Workers looking for other job to support the

families

LESONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Network: Fast reaction of IOs, TU and NGOs Essential cooperation with trade unions and NGOs in

all 3 countries (network, infrastructure, members) Coordination and cooperation between

Governments (bilateral agreements) Prevention, involvement of trade unions and

national employment agencies(Olympic games, big constructions)

Education of Go Institutions and members TUs on indicators of labor exploitation and differences btw violation of labour rights and labour exploitation and learning on TU by NGOs

THANK YOUTHANK YOU!!!!!! Belgrade, Republic of Serbia

Tel/Fax: 011 33 47 817 E-mail: astra@astra.rs Web adresa: www.astra.rs