In a significant step towards bolstering the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, IOM Serbia donated specialized tactical equipment to 30 officers from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of the Republic of Serbia. This equipment will significantly improve the performance and mobility of the front-line actors and enhance their capabilities in tackling these complex crimes.

The donation ceremony, which was attended by the MoI Head of the Department for Suppression of Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants of the Criminal Directorate and held on22 August at IOM premises in Belgrade, aligns with IOM’s continuous efforts to support authorities in strengthening counter-smuggling and counter- trafficking responses in Serbia.

The migration situation in the Western Balkans remains complex. Migrants and asylum seekers undertaking risky journeys along the Eastern Mediterranean Route are particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse, testing institutional capacities, particularly in the context of mainstreaming protection and combatting smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings.

Leveraging risk and vulnerability analyses to identify migrants in precarious situations and strengthening effective operational response is crucial to minimize the risks faced by migrants and asylum seekers and create a safe environment for all.

IOM Serbia remains committed to working alongside partners and authorities to combat smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings. Within the "Joint Actions Against Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in Human Beings" (WBJAST) project, IOM keeps strengthening cooperation mechanisms, enhancing investigation techniques, and promoting victim-centered practices.

Kao značajan korak ka jačanju borbe protiv trgovine i krijumčarenja ljudima, Međunarodna organizacija za migracije (IOM) donirala je specijalizovanu taktičku opremu za 30 službenika Ministarstva unutrašnjih poslova (MUP) Republike Srbije. Ova oprema značajno će poboljšati učinak i mobilnost aktera na prvim linijama i unaprediti njihove sposobnosti u suočavanju sa ovim složenim zločinima.

Ova donacija na čijoj ceremoniji odžanoj 22. avgusta 2023. godine u prostorijama IOM-a u Beogradu je prisustvovao načelnik Odeljenja za suzbijanje trgovine i krijumčarenje ljudima, Uprave kriminalističke policijje, deo je kontinuiranih napora IOM-a da podrži vlasti u jačanju borbe protiv krijumčarenja i trgovine ljudima u Srbiji.

Migracijska situacija na Zapadnom Balkanu ostaje kompleksna. Migranti i tražioci azila koji preduzimaju rizična putovanja duž Istočnomediteranske rute posebno su ranjivi u pogledu nasilja, iskorišćavanja i zlostavljanja, što testira institucionalne kapacitete, posebno u kontekstu uspostavljanja zaštite i suzbijanja krijumčarenja migranata i trgovine ljudima.

Korišćenje analiza rizika i ranjivosti kako bi se identifikovali migranati u nezavidnim situacijama, i jačanje efikasnog operativnog odgovora, ključno je za smanjenje rizika sa kojima se suočavaju migranti i tražioci azila, kao i za stvaranje sigurnog okruženja za sve.

IOM Srbija ostaje posvećen saradnji sa partnerima i vlastima u borbi protiv krijumčarenja migranata i trgovine ljudima. U okviru projekta "Zajedničko delovanje u borbi protiv krijumčarenja migranata i trgovine ljudima" (WBJAST), IOM nastavlja jačati mehanizme saradnje, unapređivati tehnike istrage i promovisati prakse usmerene na same žrtve.