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“The issue of baby trafficking remains topical, since the judgment of the European Court that binds the state of Serbia to shed light on missing baby cases has become final last month. Data collected through European number for missing children 116000 operated by ASTRA also shows how serious this problem is. Namely, over 41% of calls to this line pertains to missing babies.”

SERBIA – ASTRA STATEMENT ON EUROPEAN ANTI-TRAFFICKING DAY OCTOBER 18 INCLUDES SERIOUS BABY TRAFFICKING

Across the Europe, 18th of October is being marked as Anti-Trafficking Day. As a country of victims’ origin, transit country and destination of exploitation for an increasing number of victims, Serbia meets the day facing devastating statistics – increasing number of Serbian citizens falling victim to trafficking and constantly high percentage of children among identified victims, small number of final judgments and mild sentences of perpetrators. Fight against the crime of trafficking in the country is further aggravated by significant issues in the field of protection of victims’ rights and law implementation.

The problem of trafficking in human beings is also mentioned in the European Commission Progress report for Serbia presented yesterday. In this document, progress Serbia has made in the field of combating trafficking is labeled as moderate. However, it is encouraging that the focus is placed on protection of victims’ rights, as well as fight against organized crime within Chapter 23 and Chapter 24.

In the first six months of 2013, 65 victims of human trafficking were identified. By the end of the last month, close to 2000 calls were made to ASTRA SOS hotline 011 785 0000, the only line specialized for the problem of trafficking in human beings. Women and girls remain the most common victims and sexual exploitation the predominant form of the crime act. Cases of labor exploitation, forced bagging and forced marriage are also common, but we also face cases of coercion to petty crime.

The issue of baby trafficking remains topical, since the judgment of the European Court that binds the state of Serbia to shed light on missing baby cases has become final last month. Data collected through European number for missing children 116000 operated by ASTRA also shows how serious this problem is. Namely, over 41% of calls to this line pertains to missing babies/

Records of Belgrade group of missing children parents are particularly alarming, proving there is reasonable doubt that 6000 families were separated from their newborns under the excuse that the child was born dead. First such case known to the parents group happened in 1959, while the most recent one occurred in 2011. Even though, this was this was going on for decades, numerous irregularities are registered in most of the controversial cases.

The need for investigating these cases was also highlited by the Ombudsman in a report containing recommendations that was delivered to Serbian Government and the National Assembly in July 2010. Numerous problems were identified within the report, concluding that without proper investigation conducted by specialized state authorities, it cannot be statet that these babies were not illegaly separated from their families. Such an investigation, however, was not initiated to this date.

Lounching investigations, adequate punishments, improved identification of victims and, most importantly, protection and support to trafficking survivers in the process of their recovery and reintegration remain challenging issues that require continuation of intensified work of all anti-trafficking actors. Sheding light on missing babies cases also needs to be a priority. However, to make greater progress, action must be simultaniously directed towards tackling the issue of poverty, creating new job opportunities, protection of workers rights, elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence and other factors that contribute to exposure of Serbian citizens to risks of human trafficking.

For additional information, please contact us at ek@astra.rs or +381 60 33 47 817.