The goal of the second Steering Committee meeting of the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia”, held in Skopje on 12 December, was to present a comprehensive review of the implemented activities in 2023, as well as to provide a discussion forum about the positive developments in preventing and combating human trafficking and challenges faced in this regard. Representatives of the EU Delegation, National Anti-trafficking Commission, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Interior, the Academy for Judges and Prosecutors and of the CSO sector held an exchange about various integrated perspectives needed for effective and resolute anti-trafficking action.
The key results achieved in co-operation with the institutions and CSOs include enhanced prevention of child trafficking through the strategic actions and awareness raising initiatives targeting school children. Furthermore, capacities for multi-institutional co-operation to identify and refer trafficking victims for labour exploitation were increased and the research about new trends in trafficking in human beings and about standards for sheltering different categories of trafficking victims was completed. The above tactical steps were taken with full support and commitment of the local beneficiaries.
The Steering Committee also endorsed the work plan of the action for the following six months, while the partner institutions and CSOs shared their priorities for 2024, in view of creating synergies and forging partnerships to maximise the results in the anti-trafficking field. The discussed upcoming priorities include prevention of child trafficking for forced begging, access to free legal aid for trafficking victims, combating trafficking for labour exploitation and implementing recommendations of the research on shelter for trafficking victims in conformity with the European standards.
The action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in North Macedonia” is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.
