At a glance 

The aim of the project is to strengthen domestic mechanisms and capacities to facilitate and improve access to justice and effective remedies for the victims of trafficking in human beings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To that aim, the key focus will be to enhance the knowledge and capacities of relevant public institutions, criminal justice actors, legal professionals, and civil society organisations.

The project activities are envisioned to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in enhancing compliance with the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and will draw on key recommendations from the third evaluation report by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).

 Funding 

This project is implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 and funded through voluntary contributions.

 Duration 

01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

What are the goals and objectives of the action?

The overarching aim is for victims of trafficking in human beings in Bosnia and Herzegovina to enjoy better protection and effective access to justice and remedies, thereby improving the overall institutional response to the problem of trafficking in human beings.

This aim shall be achieved by:

• Enhancing the knowledge of relevant stakeholders about victims’ rights, as well as their capacity to provide adequate legal assistance to the victims of trafficking in human beings,
• Supporting state, entity, and cantonal authorities in adapting their frameworks to improve the victims’ access to compensation,
• Empowering survivors of trafficking in human beings to participate in the design and implementation of anti-trafficking measures.

Who benefits from the action?

Key beneficiaries of the project are victims of trafficking in human beings and vulnerable communities with increased risk of becoming trafficking targets.

The project shall be conducted in partnership with relevant authorities, including BiH and entity ministries in charge of justice, interior, security, human rights and refugees, as well as prosecutors' offices, judicial and prosecutorial training centres, police agencies, bar associations, and civil society organisations.

It will immediately target civil society organisations, legal professionals (judges, attorneys, free legal aid providers), police officers, and representatives of minorities and migrant communities.

How does the action work?

The project will use the methodologies and tools developed during the previous stage, “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” to build on its results and contribute to implementing the priorities in the new Anti-trafficking Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2024-2027.

The objectives of the project shall be achieved through:

• Further education for criminal justice actors (judges, prosecutors, investigators) and legal aid providers on the rights of victims and the importance of access to compensation,
• Support to capacity-building of prosecutors, police officers, and social workers on victim-centred interviews, especially when it comes to children in criminal proceedings,
• Capacity-building for relevant institutions and authorities regarding the identification, seizure, and confiscation of illegally acquired assets to compensate the victims of trafficking in human beings, and support to the establishment of victim compensation schemes,
• Support to civil society organisations to bolster the participation of survivors of trafficking in human beings in the design and implementation of anti-trafficking actions and raise the public’s awareness about the dangers of trafficking in human beings.

What do we expect to achieve?

Upon the completion of project activities, we wish to see better protection for the victims of trafficking in human beings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including effective access to justice and compensation mechanisms, and in particular the improved ability of anti-trafficking stakeholders to provide adequate support and access to these instruments.

What is the budget of the action?

The total budget of the action is 320 000 EUR.

Reference documents:

 GRETA evaluation report on Bosnia and Herzegovina GRETA(2022)06.