The Council of Europe Group of Experts on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) conducted its third evaluation visit to Serbia from 16 to 20 May 2022. The visit aimed to provide more detailed information through discussions with relevant experts, government officials, and civil society engaged in fighting human trafficking.
On this occasion, GRETA representatives also met with ASTRA representatives, clients and associates from the legal team to get acquainted with specific experiences of working with victims and opportunities for exercising rights and access to justice for victims of trafficking.
In addition, GRETA representatives had a very dynamic agenda, which included a series of meetings with anti-trafficking actors from the national anti-trafficking team, a visit to local anti-trafficking teams in Novi Sad, Nis, and Vranje, and visits to a safe house in Nis, the Asylum Center in Vranje and the State Shelter for Victims of Trafficking.
The visit was carried out by Ms Ia Dadunashvili and Ms Conny Rijken, members of GRETA. They were accompanied by Mr Mesut Bedirhanoglu and Ms Asja Žujo of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Serbian authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be published in the first half of 2023.