ASTRA’s representative participated in the regional training “Strengthening Criminal Justice Institutions and the Rule of Law in Central and Eastern Europe” organized by the US Embassy in Croatia and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Croatia in Zagreb on May 31-June 2. The aim of the training was to get relevant stakeholders from regional countries familiar with the European standards of protection of victims of human trafficking and accept and implement good practices in protecting human rights and providing services to victims of human trafficking, as domestic and other forms of violence in their countries after the training. During the first day of the training, the participants focused on the victim identification process, the assessment of their needs and the first steps that service providers should implement. Throughout the various panels on the first day, case studies as well as case law on victims of domestic violence and human trafficking were presented. On the second day of the training, speakers from state institutions and civil society organizations presented their role in improving the protection of victims and exercising their rights during court proceedings. ASTRA’s representative had the opportunity to present the organization’s many years of work and the cases that the organization meets in practice. The focus of the third day was on the migrant crisis and the risks that migrants are facing during their transit and how the countries in the region have provided assistance and support to this vulnerable group.
