Brussels, 9 November 2010
SEC(2010) 1330
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
SERBIA 2010 PROGRESS REPORT
accompanying the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL
Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2010-2011
{COM(2010) 660}
Serbia has made some progress in fighting trafficking of human beings. Procedures to identify victims have been adopted and the number of identified victims has continued to increase, while the regional trend points towards a decrease in trafficking of human beings.
Law enforcement authorities remained active and regional and international cooperation improved further. From October 2009 to August 2010, 94 victims of human trafficking have been identified, with women representing the majority. These victims, mostly of Serbian origin, had been trafficked for sexual abuse, begging, forced marriages, and labour exploitation. Awareness-raising activities have continued.
However, ratification of the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings has not been followed by further measures to guarantee its effective implementation. The strategic framework, which includes the strategy and action plan for fighting trafficking in human beings, but also the migration management, the irregular migration and the organised crime strategies, needs to be amended to allow a better policy response to emerging trends and improved cooperation between the police, prosecution and courts. As far as the protection of victims is concerned, more needs to be done to provide them with comprehensive assistance and reintegration. Although some emergency funds have been secured for two shelters run by NGOs, overall funding for NGOs active in the field of prevention and support to victims and for the government’s protection agency remains unsatisfactory. NGOs continue to rely heavily on international donor funds.