ASTRA once again took part in the 6th Meeting of the Council of Europe Network of Specialised Lawyers and NGOs Providing Legal Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking, held on 3–4 November 2025 at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg.The meeting brought together legal experts and practitioners from across Europe to exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation in ensuring access to justice for victims of human trafficking. ASTRA’s long-term collaborator, lawyer Dejana Spasojević Ivančić, presented the latest case-law developments from Serbia, particularly in cases of labour exploitation and exploitation through criminal acts, highlighting key challenges and progress in representing victims before national courts. Participants worked in thematic working groups discussing issues such as:
- corporate criminal liability for trafficking in human beings,
- challenging misclassification of THB cases,
- non-refoulement and protection against return of victims,
- identification and confiscation of traffickers’ assets,
- victims’ data protection and privacy, and
- shared values and principles of the Network.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Network’s Values and Principles, reaffirming the shared commitment of lawyers and NGOs to human rights, professionalism, confidentiality, and solidarity in protecting and empowering victims of trafficking.