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SERBIA - FIRST JUDGEMENT AWARDING COMPENSATION FOR VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING - ISSUED & EXECUTED

Compensation Case

First judgment awarding compensation for victim of trafficking in Serbia issued & executed.

The victim was trafficked and sexually exploited over a number of years.  She participated in the criminal proceedings against the four individuals, who were eventually convicted after four years of proceedings.  Compensation is guaranteed by Serbian law and international law.

However, instead of awarding compensation through the criminal proceedings upon conviction, the victim was advised she needed to pursue the matter civilly in order to receive compensation. The civil proceedings took another three years, after which the victim ultimately prevailed.  She was awarded 1,000,000 RSD (8,628 €) for pain and suffering, and 327,375 RSD (2,824 €)for legal fees.

This is the first time in Serbia that a trafficking victim will receive compensation as required by domestic law and international human rights law. Although the victim will receive compensation, the Serbian government needs to streamline this process and establish an independent compensation fund. In total, the victim was subject to seven years of legal proceedings during which she was forced to repeat over and over the same testimony in the presence of her accusers.These proceedings contributed to a secondary victimization and inhibited the victim’s recovery from the trauma of the trafficking and subsequent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.