Serbia Country Program

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Serbia works to expand community engagement and anti-trafficking programs enhancing the prevention of trafficking, protection of victims, and prosecution of perpetrators, focusing on both refugee and local populations across the Western Balkan countries.

Serbia, located in Southeast Europe at the crossroads of Central and Balkan regions, has a population of approximately 6.6 million people. As a candidate country for European Union membership and a key transit corridor between East and West, Serbia plays a significant geopolitical role in the region. However, socio-economic challenges, migration dynamics, and regional instability continue to shape vulnerabilities that contribute to human trafficking within and across its borders.

Human trafficking remains a persistent challenge in Serbia, affecting both Serbian nationals and foreign victims. The country serves as a source, transit, and destination for men, women, and children subjected to exploitation. Most Serbian victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation or forced labour within the country and in other parts of Europe. Children are particularly vulnerable to forced begging and criminal activity, often linked to organised networks.

Migration movements through the Western Balkan route have heightened vulnerabilities among refugees and asylum seekers, with some falling prey to traffickers en route to the EU. Roma communities and people living in poverty face disproportionate risks due to marginalisation, limited access to education, and social exclusion.

While Serbia has made notable progress in prevention, victim protection, and law enforcement responses, gaps remain in early identification, specialised services for child victims, and long-term reintegration support. Continued efforts are needed to address these challenges and strengthen multi-sectoral cooperation.

Key Actors and Stakeholders

Government Institutions

• Centre for Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings: Main government body for victim identification, referral, and assistance.
• Ministry of Interior – Criminal Police Directorate: Leads investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes.
• Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs: Oversees social protection services for victims.
• Ministry of Justice: Coordinates legal reform and judicial responses.

Civil Society and NGOs

• ASTRA – Anti-Trafficking Action: Provides victim support, operates hotlines, and advocates for policy reform.
• Atina: Focuses on rehabilitation and social inclusion of survivors.
• Centre for Youth Integration (CYI): Specialises in child protection and prevention activities.

International and Regional Partners

• IOM, UNODC, and OSCE support capacity-building, research, and coordination.
• The EU provides funding and policy guidance through accession negotiations.
• Council of Europe’s GRETA monitors compliance with the Anti-Trafficking Convention.

Effective coordination among these actors takes place through the National Anti-Trafficking Coordination Body, which brings together government institutions, NGOs, and international partners to align strategies, share information, and enhance operational responses.

Our Work in Serbia

Programme overview

IRC Serbia’s anti-trafficking programs prioritize Serbia and the Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. These countries are consistently placed on Tier 2 of the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Reports, as countries that do not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, highlighting the urgent need for improved prevention and response measures. All countries are identified as origin, transit, and destination countries for trafficking, involving men, women, and children subjected to sexual exploitation and forced labor.

Thematic focus areas

Since 2018 IRC Serbia established close collaboration with local NGOs in four Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia). In partnership with these local organizations, IRC Serbia initiated both national and regional projects to combat modern slavery in a context where trafficking networks target not only traditional victims of trafficking but also especially vulnerable individuals (women, and children including unaccompanied and separated children) within the asylum seekers and migrant population.

Provision of direct assistance services to Victims of Trafficking included:

• Early intervention support through mobile teams
• Proactive identification and referral of presumed victims
• Protection and emergency assistance to identified or presumed victims (including safe temporary housing, meals, clothing, client-centered and trauma-informed health care etc.)
• Support to survivors through reintegration and recovery programs, including empowerment and educational workshops, as well as income-generating activities.

Capacity strengthening of service providers for early identification and provision of specialized services to victims including police, judges, social workers, and other relevant state and non-state actors from the National Referral Mechanism, who received a series of trainings and educational sessions to bring new skills, knowledge, practical and innovative solutions.

Provision of technical assistance to institutions in strengthening the strategic framework and counter-trafficking mechanism through the development of two key documents that define the Anti-Trafficking framework in Serbia – Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the Action Plan for implementation of the National Strategy for the period 2019-2020.

Projects Implemented

From harm to safety: Improving the protection of victims of trafficking (VoTs) in Serbia

The project titled “From Harm to Safety: Improving the Protection of Victims of Trafficking (VoTs) in Serbia”, led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in partnership with the Serbian NGO Atina, aimed to strengthen the identification, protection, and recovery of trafficking victims—particularly among refugees and migrants—over a 30-month period. By combining IRC’s global expertise with Atina’s local leadership, the project sought to create sustainable, systemic change in Serbia’s response to human trafficking, ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive timely, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive support.

Start Date: February 2018 (duration 30 months)

Partner(s): Atina

Geographic focus (national / specific regions): Seven targeted municipalities—Vranje, Subotica, Novi Sad, Niš, Sremska Mitrovica, Kragujevac, and Kraljevo—where local anti-trafficking networks were being strengthened.

Objectives

• Improve identification and support for VoTs, including refugees and migrants, through client-centered care.
• Enhance age- and gender-appropriate services, especially for child victims, including unaccompanied and separated children.
• Strengthen institutional frameworks, including the development of national SOPs and revision of Serbia’s anti-trafficking strategy and action plan.

Key results or outcomes

• Pillar 1 – Direct Support to Victims

• • 168 victims of trafficking (VoTs) – including 54 children and 55 refugees/migrants – received comprehensive, client-centered care such as medical and psychosocial support, shelter, case management, economic empowerment, and reintegration services.
  • 100% of identified victims were referred to appropriate services.
  • Awareness workshops on trafficking, gender-based violence, and human rights reached 500 migrants women and girls in five Serbian asylum centers.
  • Services were delivered through Atina’s Temporary House, Reintegration Center, and Mobile Teams, offering creative, educational, and therapeutic activities (language, IT, arts, yoga, human rights, etc.).
  • 99% of clients expressed satisfaction and improved well-being.

• Pillar 2 – Capacity Building of Service Providers and Authorities
  • 439 professionals (police, judges, social workers, etc.) received specialized training on identification, child victim care, coordination, and community responses.
  • This led to a 50% increase in identified potential victims and 83% of participants showed improved knowledge.
  • Training satisfaction averaged 8/5.
• Pillar 3 – Institutional Strengthening
  • Supported the revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and development of local referral pathways.
  • Developed and adopted a Two-Year Action Plan (2019–2020) and a Monitoring and Reporting Tool for implementation.
  • Produced information leaflets for professionals and victims, officially adopted by the Ministry of Interior for nationwide police use.

Report: Baseline Study

Info brochure for adults: Your rights to protection and support

Info brochure for children: Your rights to protection and support

Countering Human Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence Among Afghan Asylum Seekers on the Western Balkan Migration Route

The project titled “Countering Human Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence Among Afghan Asylum Seekers on the Western Balkan Migration Route” was a one-year emergency initiative (April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023) implemented in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Kosovo. It aimed to protect Afghan asylum seekers—particularly women and children—from exploitation, abuse, and neglect during their transit through the Balkans. The project focused on proactive identification, screening, and referral of victims of trafficking (VoTs) and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), while also providing direct support services.

Start Date: April 1, 2022

Partner(s): Atina (Serbia), Vatra (Albania), Center for Protection of Victims and Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings (PVPT) (Kosovo), Vasa Prava (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Geographic focus (national / specific regions): Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Albania, and Kosovo

Key results or outcomes

• Proactive Identification and Screening
  • 2,000 asylum seekers to be screened and informed about trafficking and GBV risks.
  • Early risk assessments and referrals to relevant services for presumed victims.
• Direct Support and Protection
  • 280 presumed victims to receive direct services such as:
  • Safe temporary housing
  • Psychological counseling
  • Legal aid
  • Medical and social services
• Regional Cooperation
  • Strengthened collaboration among 52 stakeholders across Serbia, Albania, BiH, and Kosovo.
  • Development of cooperative mechanisms and hosting of three thematic roundtables to share best practices and improve service delivery.

Report: Afghans on the Balkan Route

Key Achievements

Resources and Key Documents

• IRC Serbia Anti-Trafficking program overview (2024)
• IRC Serbia Trafficking in Persons Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis (2021-2023)