At the beginning of October, a two-day regional conference titled “The Impact of Technology on Human Trafficking: Changing Approaches for a More Effective Response” was held in Sarajevo, where Marija Anđelković, director of ASTRA, spoke as one of the participants.
The regional conference builds on the findings of the Council of Europe’s study on human trafficking through the internet and technology, the conclusions from three events organized in North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on the findings of local research.
The main goal is to further develop measures to reduce the impact of technology on human trafficking in the region and to continue supporting the institutions of these countries in improving prevention and combating human trafficking, including trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation.
“Human traffickers learn and follow technological developments faster than we do. They use digital technologies not only for recruitment but also for controlling and exploiting victims. We in non-governmental organizations need additional training to keep up and know where to look in the sea of information that comes our way,” said ASTRA director Marija Anđelković.
Phil Bennett from “Tech Against Trafficking,” a coalition of technology companies collaborating with global experts to help eradicate human trafficking using technology, agrees with her.
“The role of IT companies can be significant, not only in terms of developing technologies but also in supporting NGOs that run SOS hotlines and provide services to victims, as they are the first at the source of information, as well as the institutions working on detecting and proving these crimes,” said Phil Bennett.
The conference participants discussed topics such as new trends in the use of technology in human trafficking, challenges in detecting cases of human trafficking through the internet, how offenders use technology in the context of trafficking, and similar issues.
They also discussed how technology can be used to support victims and ways to overcome obstacles in working on cases of human trafficking through the internet and technology.
“Technology is used for the recruitment and control of victims of human trafficking. Professionals and NGOs who have been working in this field for a long time know this, but we must do more on prevention with the general public,” added Marija Gjorgeva, prosecutor and deputy head of the Task Force for Combating Human Trafficking in North Macedonia.
Anmari Brockmoller from WEB IQ, a company fighting online child abuse, human trafficking, and fraud, also emphasized the need for cooperation among all actors.
The conference was held on October 2 and 3 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized by the Council of Europe, with more than 60 experts participating.