GIZ/KBF Forum 2011 publication by GIZ SPPHT

Documentation Regional Forum ‘Social Dimensions of Human Trafficking in the Western Balkans’ Skopje 28th - 30th November, 2011

Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Banderole picture on the front © Aleksandar Dautovski Photo&DA

Regional Programme on Social Protection and Prevention of Human Trafficking

Pictures inside Page 18: © Aleksandar Dautovski

Antonie Grubisic N° 5 1000 Skopje, Macedonia T +389 2 3103 570 I www.giz.de I www.htsocialprotection.org

Page 18: © Ognen Bojkovski Page 18: © DROM Page 26, 27: © Elfi Hirsch Other pictures: © GIZ

Responsible: Wolfgang Jessen & Fabrice de Kerchove Author: Natalija Spasovska Proofreading and editing: Andrea Borsos and Faredin Aeti Printed and distributed by : Vinsent Grafika Place and date of publication: Skopje, Macedonia 2012 © GIZ 2012

Table of Contents Preface and Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Background of the Regional Forum ................................................................................................................................ 5 Partners ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Agenda ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Welcome address Mr. Spiro Ristovski, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Macedonia .......... 10 Welcome address Ms. Elena Grozdanova, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Sector for Equal Opportunities, Macedonia ............................................................................................................. 10 Day 2 Tuesday ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Expert panel .......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Cultural Event in Chifte Hamam ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Day 3 Wednesday .................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Editorial team presentation of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;intervention areasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ................................................................................... 19 Central table discussion 1 ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Expert opinion by Ms. Baerbel Uhl ................................................................................................................................... 21 Central table discussion 2 ............................................................................................................................................... 24 Virtual Platform presentation ........................................................................................................................................ 25 Summer School ...................................................................................................................................................................... 26 ANNEX 1 - Results ................................................................................................................................................................. 27 ANNEX 2 - Speeches .............................................................................................................................................................. 51 ANNEX 3 List of Participants ............................................................................................................................................ 57

Preface and Acknowledgments Dear Forum members, We are happy to share with you the summary of the results achieved during the Regional Forum on Social Dimensions of Human Trafficking held between 28th and 30th November, 2011 in Skopje, Macedonia. The idea of the KBF and GIZ was to organise a regional meeting which will serve as a Forum where stakeholders come together and share ideas and potential solutions to Human Trafficking as a commonly shared challenge by all countries in the region of Western Balkans. Looking back on the results we have achieved we can clearly state the goals and objectives set initially had been achieved to the full satisfaction of the partners supporting this meeting. We would like to reiterate that all Forum members have taken an active role by participating and contributing substantially in the discussion during the three days and, therefore, this documentation is a result of your own efforts. Moreover, your work and contribution will certainly not stop here but will continue to feed into our program design for the next several years to come and will undoubtedly result in a number of program activities The success of the Regional Forum is a result of joint efforts of a number of team members and outside collaborators. Therefore, the organisers GIZ & KBF would like to express our gratitude to everyone involved in the planning and organisation of the regional meeting.1

Yours sincerely,

Wolfgang Jessen, Programme Manager at GIZ-SPPHT Fabrice de Kerchove, Project Manager at KBF

We would like to express gratitude especially to: GIZ Regional Office – Wolfgang Jessen, Natalija Spasovska, Elfi Hirsch; King Baudouin Foundation - Fabrice de Kerchove National Office Skopje – Vlatko Aleksovski, Vesna Zdravkovic; National Office Pristina - Rrezarta Jashari, Venera Mikushnica; National Office Belgrade - Stanislava Vidovic, Dubravka Milovanovic, National Office Tuzla - Tatjana Junuzagic, Facilitators – Dona Kosturanova, Biljana Dijanisieva, Brankica Georgievska, Lazar Pop Ivanov, Petar Dimitrov, Besfort Jonuzi, Faredin Aeti, Bojan Maricic, Natasa Janceva, Albion Zeka

Background of the Regional Forum Human Trafficking is not only a crime. It is also a social problem with a complex network of root causes and knock-on effects. Much has been done to ensure that human trafficking is high up on the political agendas of the Governments of the former Yugoslavian countries and of international actors. The region has responded to the challenges of HT by a better coordination and cooperation of border police units and legislative reforms as to align domestic legislation with international standards. There is now the need for joint action on the social dimension of the problem – looking at the whole vicious circle of HT, which will highlight new and changing threats to men, women and children in domestic and foreign economies. Aim of the Regional Forum The aim of the Forum is to enable all relevant actors dealing with human trafficking (furthermore: HT) from five regions of the Western Balkans, namely, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Macedonia to come together and jointly discuss various ideas and solutions with the potential to shape the new and innovative regional response to HT in the Western Balkans. Specific objectives to be achieved at the Forum: • Identify and focus on the root causes triggering and further entrapping people into HT (the “vulnerability circle”) and establish ways of increasing social inclusion and (re-)integration. • Create a united regional response to dealing with HT (strategic solutions and recommendations). • Agenda setting for the post-forum online deliberation: which areas and questions do we need to tackle together and whom do we need on board? Specific questions that have been addressed How can potential victims be identified? How can social inclusion prevent and deal with human trafficking? What is the role and responsibility of Governments to act and how can they be supported by the diversity of expertise available in the region?

Interactive and participatory approach The Forum was conceptualized as an interactive event offering opportunity to discuss the whole complexity of HT by looking at it as a “vulnerability circle”. Participants will be asked to contribute actively and share their ideas based on their experience and knowledge regarding both prevention of HT and re/integration of HT victims. Outcome and a follow up As an outcome of the forum, a so called “virtual platform” was introduced. The purpose of this platform is to closely investigate specific issues related to HT and to come up with tangible results which will be presented within the scope of a summer school organised by GIZ in 2012. It would be our honour to personally welcome you at the Trafficking and Protection virtual platform and we hope to work together in order to bring innovative solutions closer to the region of the Western Balkans.

Partners The Regional Forum was convened as a joint initiative of GIZ (Germany) and of the King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium). In March 2011 GIZ has launched the Regional Programme on Social Protection and Prevention of Human Trafficking that will be implemented in four regions of the Western Balkans (Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia). The programme aims at fostering a renewed perspective and understanding of human trafficking as a societal challenge faced by all countries of the region. To this end GIZ will support national strategies on social protection with special focus on economic empowerment and social inclusion of both potential and actual victims of human trafficking. The programme operates in four main areas: • • • •

strengthen existing social protection schemes, fostering systemic change and policy making support decentralized social service delivery provide direct support to programmes aiming at improved social inclusion of trafficked persons establish a regional cooperation and co-ordination mechanism regarding the social dimension of human trafficking.

The King Baudouin Foundation has been active in the fight against human trafficking since 2003. From their outset, its programmes have been focusing on the social and human dimensions of trafficking, through direct assistance to victims, the respect of their rights and their sustainable re/integration. Through the Trafficking Victims Re/integration Programme, more than 1,300 direct beneficiaries and their relatives have been assisted by local NGO’s in six countries of Southeast Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia) since 2007. KBF and GIZ recently signed a cooperation agreement focusing primarily on the support to programmes aiming at improved social inclusion of trafficked persons and on exchanges of good practices at the regional level. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has special focus on developing and improving the national policies against human trafficking as well as building and strengthening the capacities of relevant actors in prevention, awareness-raising, and also setting up of the institutional mechanisms for the protection of victims of HT. According to the strategic commitments and priorities of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, within the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Department for Equal Opportunity established the office of National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Human Trafficking (NRM) which has been running since 2005. The main role of the NRM office is to provide successful coordination and effective protection of victims of HT based on the human rights standards.

Executive summary The German Agency for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH – GIZ) in cooperation with the King Baudouin Foundation convened a Regional Forum dedicated on the “Social Dimensions of Human Trafficking in the Western Balkans” which took place in Skopje from the 28th to 30thNovember, 2011. The Regional Forum served as a launching event for the Regional Programme on Social Protection and Prevention of Human Trafficking implemented by GIZ as well as the joint GIZ-KBF NGO fund for reintegration of HT victims. The Forum was attended by more than 80 government officials, policymakers, experts in the field of HT and representatives of the civil society form the region and Europe. The diversity of the professional profile of participants, combined with the participatory approach of the Forum, has yielded with tangible results and recommendations which serve as a basis that the organisers can build on in the coming years. In addition to expert panels discussing the most recent developments in the field, participants contributed by sharing their professional views as part of a series of breakout sessions. Each breakout session dealt with a specific topic starting from the more basic questions and, as the discussion progressed further, participants dealt with the issue of HT on a more advanced level. Considering the fact that the regional Forum was attended by actors with very different backgrounds, the kick out session was dedicated to identify root causes and consequences of HT. This was valuable because it served as a levelling out session bringing all participants at the same

level in terms of understanding the phenomenon of HT and stressing out that we should not only focus on the victims (meaning the consequences of the HT experience) but also we should pay equal attention to the stage of the process when the victim has faced numerous challenges which have made her/him vulnerable and could have been avoided in the presence of an adequate and timely sensitive societal response. As a result, we have received a number of clusters of root causes which point out the variety of factors involved including factors arising from the individual circumstances to problems rooted in the societies in the region (i.e. the erosion of family and social values in transitional societies, from governance failure, like judicial inefficiency, to political factors such as corruption and the low scoring of HT on the policy agendas of the Governments in the region). Whereas the root causes session resulted more in identified factors scattered across the socio-political realm, more specifically the failure of effective governance in the countries to cope with the extremely volatile socio-economic situation, the second session was dedicated to consequences prompted a more human right centred reasoning in addition to the systemic failure identified earlier. The results stressed out the importance of the community in the process of sustainable reintegration and avoiding discrimination of the former victims but also economic empowerment was mentioned in particular as a sustainable solution to reintegration. The second session focused on action areas which were identified by the participants as the most challenging ones in the region. Participants were first asked to brainstorm ideas or issues which were the most challenging and required greater attention from actors and stakeholders in the region. The ideas were then clustered according to the similarity of the issues raised. The resulting clusters in essence represent the action areas. The most challenging action areas include ‘new approaches to prevention’, ‘NGO-Government cooperation’, ‘addressing new trends and target groups’, ‘social inclusion, reintegration and economic empowerment at all levels of society’ and ‘finally regional cooperation’. Prior to continuing the session on strategic solutions for the challenging action areas, the partners of the Regional Forum presented the action areas and asked participants to cast their votes according to their preference and their prioritization. Among the top three priorities were the ‘new approaches to prevention’, NGO-Government cooperation’ and ‘social inclusion, reintegration and economic empowerment at all levels of society’. Nevertheless, in the following session participants continued working on strategic solutions across all action areas regardless of the prioritization. On the basis of the identified challenging action areas and the suggested strategic solutions for each of them respectively, the GIZ and KBF singled out five thematic areas that require further scrutiny with the possibility of advancement of the current state of development. Participants were then offered the opportunity to take part in one of the following Working Groups: WG I: Developing a strategy for effective communication and education including new media and peer education; WG II: Developing identification mechanisms of potential victims/vulnerable groups; WG III: Improving NGO-Government coordination and cooperation;

WG IV: Developing a strategy for long-term, sustainable, well-monitored socio-economic integration of victims; WG V: Developing and improving strategies for the implementation of effective outreach services and service delivery.

(for further information see Annex no. 1.) In order to support the facilitation of the working groups tasked to explore the issues, GIZ established a virtual platform http://trafficking-and-protection.ning.com/. The platform enables experts and actors from different parts of the region and worldwide to come together and work jointly on devising new solutions and approaches across the five challenge areas.

Agenda Open market The open market provided a space for participants to introduce themselves in a rather informal way and to find out about common interests that they might share with their colleagues from the region and abroad. As a warm-up, participants filled out a questionnaire about random things connected with their free time and personalities and attached their photos taken on the spot. This enabled them to start getting to know each other before starting their professional cooperation. Open market

Pantomime The pantomime performance signalled the official start of the Forum. The pantomime performance narrates a typical life story of hundreds of vulnerable men, women and children living at the brink of survival in an economically deprived transitional society, and facing endless barriers on their endeavour to win over the marginalization by finding a descent job to earn a living. On this endeavour to survive many have been manipulated by the attractive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;working abroad offersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and thus ended ensnared in the vicious circle of Human Trafficking. Pantomime

‘…The story starts with a young baby on the streets of the city and continues by showing a scene of a school-aged girl who is now becoming aware of the differences between her life and the life of the other happy children as they are going to school. Striving for better life opportunities she decides already at the age of 16 to look for a job abroad or in some of the café bars during the summer season. Middle aged man shows up in her life promising to her a better life with his support. She accepts the chance and soon falls in love with him. After a while, without even realizing it, she gets trapped into the ‘vicious circle of HT’, from one side finally she is so close to the life she always wanted, yet so distant. As time goes by the gap grows bigger and bigger. Her enthusiasm turns into despair and she realizes that the only hope she ever had – her boyfriend- is at the same time her nightmare. The mask of a loving man soon starts to dissolve in front of her eyes...’ Mr. James Macbeth welcomed the participants and briefly reflected on the pantomime play by sharing his own view and impression, but also explaining very briefly about the purpose of the pantomime act to remind people that HT victims do not end up as victims by chance, on the contrary, victims are usually vulnerable to different degrees and have been facing various risk factors long before they become victims. He also highlighted that the purpose of the Forum is to jointly find ways of how different societal actors can help vulnerable people in avoiding their entrapment into the vicious circle in the first place, but also finding exit strategies for the ones for whom societal response has arrived belatedly.

Welcome address Mr. Spiro Ristovski, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Macedonia Minister Mr. Spiro Ristovski welcomed the participants and the different representatives of governments and organizations. In his speech the Minister highlighted that ‘Human Trafficking is not only a crime, it is also a socio-pathological phenomenon and must be seen from the aspect of interconnectivity and inter-dependence of many social factors.’ Therefore ‘…one of the strategic priorities of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the MLSP is the development and improvement of national policies to combat HT, prevention in all relevant aspects, raising awareness as well as establishing institutional mechanisms for protection of the victims of HT as well as elaboration and implementation of programs for re-socialization and re-integration of those victims in society.’ Minister Mr. Spiro Ristovski (For the whole speech see Annex no. 2.)

Welcome address Ms. Elena Grozdanova, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Sector for Equal Opportunities, Macedonia After presenting the recent changes in implementing the National Referral Mechanism project and the current situation of the assistance and protection of the human trafficking victims, Ms. Elena Grozdanova highlighted that ‘…In February this year was opened the first State Shelter – the Centre for Human Trafficking Victims which completes the institutional framework for human trafficking protection. ‘ She expressed that in the future, being the most suitable Ministry, it is necessary to be dedicated more on prevention and undertaking proper measures and activities which will influence the social factors that encourage human trafficking, and to act on the roots of this phenomenon and also focus on re-socialisation and re-integration of the human trafficking victims. (For the whole speech see Annex no. 2)

Ms. Elena Grozdanova

On boarding by the hosts GIZ & KBF Mr. James Macbeth and Ms. Natasha Walker introduced Mr. Wolfgang Jessen and Mr. Fabrice De Kerchove who were invited to the stage, as the two representatives of GIZ and KBF, the partners for the Forum. They talked about how they came up with the idea of the Forum, the shared view on the equal importance of prevention and reintegration of people affected by and at risk of HT. Mr. Wolfgang Jessen and Mr. Fabrice De Kerchove informed the audience about the main topic of the Forum, namely addressing both root causes faced by groups at risks of HT and consequences of the Human Trafficking experience, experienced by the actual HT victims. Finally, they highlighted the importance of a follow up by introducing working groups consisted of experts participating at the Forum who will be collaborating on a virtual platform with the aim to work out solutions on the basis of the recommendations of the Forum.

Mr. Wolfgang Jessen & Mr. Fabrice De Kerchove

Key note speaker Ms. Stana Buchowska, ECPAT UK Ms. Stana Buchowska is a co-founder of La Strada and was previously the executive board member of La Strada Foundation against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery, based in Poland. Her main areas of work and expertise include project coordination, lobbying, networking on national and international levels, development and implementation of training programmes, particularly for law enforcement representatives, social service providers and NGOs. She was a member of the EU Expert Group on Trafficking, 2008-2011 and also a member of the Global Alliance against Trafficking in Women and the International Board and La Strada International Association. Ms. Buchowska highlighted in her speech that the main problems are that victims are criminalized and the services are not reachable for them which is mainly due to wrongly designed programmes. As recommendation, among others, she suggested to ‘…promote and implement social and labour inclusion programmes for trafficked persons based on individual needs, assessment and participatory approach of beneficiaries; to promote a regional cooperation and to improve implementation of the regional coordination mechanism in the region.’ (For the whole speech see Annex no. 2) Ms. Stana Buchowska

Day 2 Tuesday Expert panel The opening expert panel provided an overview of the complexities of HT as a challenge by stressing the equal importance of tackling the so called ‘vicious circle’ from the side of social prevention and protection as well as the importance of reintegration including socio-economic empowerment. Panellists included:   •• Ms. Rebecca Surtees – expert on HT with specific knowledge on the Balkan region; •• Mr. Samir Rizvo - National coordinator in BiH; •• Ms. Marijana Savic - NGO Atina; •• Mr. Neil Whettam - Regional Child Protection Advisor, TdH.

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‘It takes a village to raise a child’

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It is an African proverb and that’s where we need to start, we need to start in the communities. We need to look at where we live and where we work. Mr. Neil Whettam

In the opening of the panel Mr. Neil Whettam made a point that in order for one to understand fully Human Trafficking, one should look for answers of rather basic questions namely, what we need as human beings, what do we expect as human beings and where do we go. He expressed one widely shared concern among the actors involved in combating Human Trafficking. As in most transitional societies, these actors are faced with scarcity of resources which heavily limit them in being able to actually help the people who are in most need, and this is what demotivates them in asking for alternatives and solution. Their perception is that the solution of the problem simply goes beyond their individual capacity. Also actors in the field oftentimes feel as if anti-trafficking is more about policy discourses and theoretical discussion whereas not much has been changed on the ground for those who deal with real HT victims. Mr. Neil Whettam’s answer to this quandary is for everyone to take up more responsibility and to break the boundaries of the narrowly defined roles as professionals. Mr. Samir Rizvo started by expressing his contentment about the fact that this Forum is one of the rare events which was launched by a Minister of Social Policy which clearly conveys the message about the importance of the social dimension of HT. He complemented Mr. Whettam’s argument that our approach in fighting HT should be adapted to reach out to local communities and the success of our work clearly depends on creating synergies between different local stakeholders. ... ‘we have to come down from our high state offices, from our policy decision making levels and lower the debate to the grass-roots, to the local communities…’ Mr. Samir Rizvo, National Anti - Trafficking Coordinator, BiH Mr. Samir Rizvo

Talking from an NGO perspective, Ms. Marijana Savic shared her experience while working with HT victims directly and according to her HT victims usually come from very difficult environments where they have been used to cope with living conditions which judging by the standards shared by the majority, would be certainly classified as unbearable beyond any measure. Over time victims got used to being beaten and forced into many different situations of exploitation which made them less capable of recognizing the trafficking experience as such. So, as Ms. Marijana Savic says, the roots of the Human Trafficking experience start in the local community and therefore the key prerequisite in achieving long term prevention as well as reintegration is the active and vibrant local community. ‘’A Roma girl who already had experience with working on the street and was not recognized as a victim at that time in her community, now at least she was recognized as a victim of HT, but that was not the worst thing that happened in her life’’. Ms. Marijana Savic, NGO Atina Ms. Marijana Savic

The issue of sustainable reintegration of people at risk of HT and HT victims was addressed by Ms. Rebecca Surtees who has been involved in designing reintegration programmes in the Balkans. She expressed her opinion that there are many different reintegration models applied in the region among which some are shelter-based, some are on the field yet many others offer mixed services. When it comes to social inclusion of marginalized people, the best way to facilitate this is through economic empowerment programs which can be targeted for both people at risk of Human Trafficking as well as for other types of vulnerable people. Following the point made by the key note speaker at the Forum, Ms. Stana Buchowska, that the right services very often do not reach out to those who are in the greatest need, Mr. Neil Whettam emphasized the importance of taking on a participatory-based approach in designing programs. “…a young person that I worked with many years ago. The person was very much disadvantaged, very much neglected, highly intelligent and he said to me on one occasion: You are the only person who has actually listened to what I’ve said. Everybody else wants to do something for me, but I want to be part of that process. You listened and understood me and it has taken a long time to trust you, because remember, I don’t trust adults, because adults let me down. And this was a young guy with 16 years of age, who has been trafficked for sexual exploitation within a paedophile ring in the UK. And that for me was the message…“ Mr. Neil Whettam – Child Protection Advisor, TdH

According to Mr. Neil Whettam we need to look at 3 keywords: connecting, understanding and assisting. These are interconnected and should be looked at in sequential order. Therefore, connecting with the people that we would like to support is of primary importance. This should enable us to understand their needs and only when their needs have been understood by us we can proceed by assisting them. Ms. Rebecca Surtees complemented his argument by saying that in fact beneficiaries should not only be involved in programme design, but also in the process of programme and service evaluation. According to Ms. Marijana Savic the reasons for facing obstacles in finding exit strategies from the vicious circle is the fact that most anti-trafficking programmes are designed on the principle of reacting in the post victim phase or in other words only after the victim had been identified. She highlighted that the most important thing is the pro-active attitude in acting upon the reasons why a person has become a victim and regarding victims what are the factors inducing HT victims in the re-trafficking circle even after spending several months in a re-integration program. The Expert Panel

She then called upon the local communities to take a greater responsibility in the process of identifying the root causes that trigger the process of trafficking in our communities, but also the state institutions whose main responsibility is to build the capacity of local stakeholders in order to make them better equipped to carry out their role in society. Ms. Marijana Savic also thinks that another problem is that people do not really understand the aspect of HT and the terms used for prevention, therefore, it is necessary to explain them in simple language. The major problem in the combat against trafficking, as Mr. Samir Rizvo sees it, is the fact that HT is a profitable crime and it is a needed product on the market. Therefore there will be victims who need help in the process of reintegration. However, according to Mr. Samir Rizvo actors in the region have to undertake a more holistic approach in tackling HT with specific focus on prevention especially because in all these countries the real numbers of HT victims do not correspond to the actual reality, this indirectly referring to the so called grey numbers of higher number of unofficial victims. Because of the low number of officially reported victims politicians do not feel alarmed enough when it comes to the HT issue. The best way to raise the issue on the political agenda is by working on holistic approach to prevention which can effectively reach out to vulnerable people at risk of becoming HT victim. Another way to combat HT is poverty reduction and unemployment reduction programmes, social inclusion, but also there is work needed on the prevention because it is very difficult to reintegrate the victims with deep wounds and the programmes of reintegration cannot always guarantee that they will be a valuable and equal member of the community, therefore setting up early detection systems is important.

Referring to the concern raised by many at the Forum, namely the effectiveness of current prevention strategies, Mr. James Macbeth took the opportunity to ask Mr. Samir Rizvo about the possibility to measure the success of these strategies. In his response, Mr. Samir Rizvo mentioned that it is not possible to measure prevention as a whole but only the aspect of raising awareness of the problem of HT. If you start putting numbers on people’s heads and figures, you are playing the same game that the traffickers are doing. So let’s stop it, please!’ Mr. Neil Whettam - Child Protection Advisor, TdH

‘We can only measure what we know about HT and how much is HT socially acceptable or not. We have to work on making HT socially not acceptable in society‘, Mr. Samir Rizvo concluded.

Mr. Neil Whettam contended the need of measurement of preventive strategies. On the contrary, Ms. Marijana Savic asserted that it is important to create mechanisms to measure preventive efforts and also to find a model of cooperation between NGOs and other service providers. Raising awareness of HT has to be simplified and to highlight that Human Trafficking is a violence of the human right of a person and as in the case of every other violence, be it sexual abuse, family violence and so on, the local communities should react and be part of preventive strategies. Also an important element is that the institutions of social protection have to be accessible in practice. Regarding measuring effectiveness, Ms. Rebecca Surtees added that this is a field of expertise and specialized people who have the methodologies of measurement. Therefore, engaging with the actual beneficiaries of the HT reintegration programmes will help us to understand what is or isn’t working. Moreover program evaluation should not only look at the outputs and outcomes but should go beyond by also analyzing impacts. The final question addressed to the experts in the panel was related to the outlook for the region in the combat against trafficking, in particular the social dimensions of it. Ms. Rebecca Surtees’ point of view in regard to reintegration is that a lot has been done; however, the process is not complete and has to be continued. A big gap in reintegration is the way to address economic empowerment and inclusion of the people. Another important part is monitoring and evaluation which should be designed on a participatory based principle.

Ms. Rebecca Surtees

As for Mr. Neil Whettam, the most important thing ahead is multi-agency working. According to him, the best way to improve identification of HT victims is by creating partnerships and multidisciplinary working of many different key actors and stakeholders. Also for Ms. Marijana Savic the future work includes partnership, high quality cooperation, pro-active approach and support to beneficiaries to create and develop their own programmes. She also highlighted that socio-economic empowerment is a key point by stressing that instead of providing social assistance, which is a passive form of helping people, more sustainable option would be to empower people so that they can uplift themselves from socially difficult situations which had turned them into HT victims in the first place. Mr. Samir Rizvoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion was that work should be done in an organised manner, at least as organised as human traffickers. Trust and mutual understanding between governmental and non-governmental organizations is also necessary, not to mention the awareness rising in political decision-makers and in the public â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;, that HT does exist; it is part of our everyday life and can never be socially acceptable.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mr. Samir Rizvo concluded by referring to the increasingly important discussion about the necessity to differentiate between poor working conditions and labour exploitation and, therefore, anti-trafficking programs should be designed in a way that makes them adaptable to address various and moreover newly emerging forms of HT.

Cultural Event in Chifte Hamam The purpose of the Cultural Event was to explore the topic of the Forum through different artistic approaches, nevertheless to create an enjoyable milieu for socializing. The welcome speeches were delivered by Ms. Gudrun Elisabeth Steinacker, the Ambassador of Germany, and Ms. Katherine Raeymaekers, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Belgium and Ms. Violeta Andonovska, the National Coordinator from the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia.

Ms. Gudrun Elisabeth Steinacker

Jazz Band

The Ambassador of Germany highlighted that GIZ is committed in supporting anti-trafficking programmes in many regions of the Western Balkans. She also expressed that she appreciates very much the launching of the recent Programme and she truly believes that this will be an added value for the region. As HT is one of the modern evils in developing countries, it is necessary to look for sustainable and long-term cooperation to face this problem.

Ms. Raeymaekers presented KBF as one of the most active organizations and donors in the region, with special focus on the sustainable reintegration of the victims. She welcomed the continuation of the funding for NGOs and the newly established fund with the GIZ and she expressed her hope that this will accelerate the progress on the anti-trafficking agenda of the NGOs in the region. Ms. Andonovska highlighted that Human Trafficking should not be perceived solely as a crime issue, but even more importantly as a primarily societal problem. Therefore, Human Trafficking as an issue is highly placed on the policy agenda of the Macedonian Government and much effort has been invested over the past 2 decades. As the Cultural Event was organised as a multimedia event, the topic of the Forum was revealed by Filmlets of AntiTrafficking Campaigns, Movie Screening, Exhibition of Art inspired by related issues and Photo Exhibition in different halls of the Chifte Hamam.

Exhibition of Art/ Photo Exhibition

At the same time Oriental/Balkan food and drinks were served during which a Jazz Band was performing and soon after participants could enjoy the music from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s by Dj Dragan B. Kostikj.

Chifte Hamam

The Cultural Event also offered the perfect opportunity for networking, as it was attended by around 100 participants including Government officials, Ambassadors, representatives of partner institutions, NGOs, Think Tanks, Social Workers, researchers and consultants from the region of the Western Balkans as well as from Europe and other parts of the world.

Day 3 Wednesday

Dj Dragan B. Kostikj

Editorial team presentation of the ‘intervention areas’ Mr. Wolfgang Jessen & Mr. Fabrice de Kerchove presented each of the clustered ‘intervention areas’. Each of the clusters had been refined the day before, meaning that a few variants of the suggested solutions per cluster were presented here. 1. New • • • •

approaches for prevention: To improve working with media, including social media and special campaigns, using VIP, art Peer education and participation of vulnerable groups Early warning system, to identify mechanisms or victims, indicators for what it means vulnerable Value building within the society, strategic mapping and involvement of stakeholders

2. Coordination between all the stakeholders involved in the fight against trafficking, cooperation between governmental and non-governmental institutions • Professionalization of civil society, standardization, quality insurance of services, certification of services, issue of funding/inappropriate funding of NGOs • Creation of multidisciplinary approach, mixed units of social workers, police, etc., assistance of victims at regional level, creating agencies • Mechanism of NGO-donor-government cooperation, the need of NGOs to coordinate among themselves, structured dialog between them 3. Strengthening decentralized service delivery • Multidisciplinary teams

• Capacity building and quality control of services at local level, involving the business at local level • Outreach services: how to reach out to the people? 4. Addressing new trends and new target groups • National body to analyze these new trends, a governmental body, assess risk factors 5. Implementing responsive and well funded policies • Working on judicial reform • Positive discrimination • Long-term anti-HT policy 6. Social inclusion and reintegration strategies • Importance of involving businesses in reintegration, employment as key-priority, employment policies adjusted to HT victims • Educational support, training, access to rights • Access to justice, legal assistance, advice • Long-term and sustainable social and emotional reintegration, psychological assistance

Central table discussion 1 On the basis of the preference voting and prioritization made by participants themselves the editorial team selected the following five thematic Working Groups as areas on which experts from the region and Europe will focus on in the following year. The thematic areas of the Working Groups are as follows: WG I: Developing a strategy for effective communication and education including new media and peer education This working group will elaborate on new and innovative methods and approaches how to reach out to affected persons and to the general public. Not the old type of flyers and brochures or awareness campaigns targeting schools should be focused on but the new media and/or communication tools which haven´t been tried yet. WG II: Developing identification mechanisms of potential victims/vulnerable groups The aim of this group will be to come up with ideas for a communal “early detection system” of potential victims of HT. Generally accepted definitions for “vulnerable groups” and potential victims shall be developed. Communal awareness and

responsibility will have to be addressed. Question: What makes a person vulnerable and how to recognize it? WG III: Improving NGO-Government coordination and cooperation In all countries of the region it is of utmost importance to define the new roles for both the Government and the NGOs, in the implementation of programs addressing victims of HT as well as vulnerable groups. The idea: NGOs acting as service providers on behalf of Governments and Governments taking over a supervisory and regulatory role. WG IV: Developing a strategy for long-term, sustainable, well-monitored socio-economic integration of victims This working group will work on the economic empowerment of victims and an effective monitoring system with regard to their successful societal integration. Important: it will deal with the “time after the shelter”! WG V: Developing and improving strategies for the implementation of effective outreach services and service delivery In order to improve social services catering to the needs of vulnerable people it is important to address the question of how to reach them effectively. What kind of services are needed and what programs/social schemes should be offered to them by whom?

Expert opinion by Ms. Baerbel Uhl Ms. Baerbel Heide Uhl Senior anti-trafficking adviser Ms. Baerbel Uhl has a long standing experience in anti-trafficking work within non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations, including grass-root counselling for trafficked persons, policy development, advocacy, legislative review, academic research, training of professionals and author/editor of numerous reports and manuals on this issue. Ms. Baerbel Uhl’s career record includes: Co-founder of the La Strada NGO network in Central and Eastern Europe and Director of La Strada Czech Republic; General Secretary for international affairs of the KOK (network of anti-trafficking NGOs in Germany); Member of the EC expert mission to combat trafficking in human beings to Belarus; Anti-trafficking Expert of the Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (Vienna) for EU Twinning Missions. During the last 17 years, Ms. Baerbel Uhl has been assigned as an expert on anti-trafficking policies to numerous hearings, round tables and consultations for governmental, inter-governmental and parliamentarian bodies. Ms. Baerbel Heide Uhl was a Member of the first EC Experts Group on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (20032007) and is currently the chair of the Experts Group.

The social dimension of HT is a relatively new approach which focuses on the social level of the problem, early prevention of potential victims and reintegration of HT victims. Therefore, we have invited Ms. Baerbel Uhl to elaborate and give input further more on the topic. Mr. James Macbeth invited Ms. Baerbel Uhl to come up the stage. Ms. Uhl provided expert opinion on the refined solutions.

Ms. Baerbel Uhl

She started her feedback to the outcome results with a step back to look at the whole framework. The two areas where HT is located are: the Criminal Justice Response: - - - - - - - - -

trained front-line officers, specialized anti-trafficking police units, specialized prosecutors, trained judges, anti-corruption measures, confiscation of assets, victim/witness protection, labour inspections, international cooperation

and the Human Right Protection which is the core of social welfare and social responses: - - - - - - - - - -

non-discrimination, safety and fair treatment, access to justice, access to private actions and reparations, residence status, health and other services, social inclusion and return, prevention, representation/participation, protection of privacy

According to her this is the general framework that the actions on anti-trafficking are based on. Then she offered the participants some more principle considerations on the possible strategies to achieve the overall goal of anti-trafficking policy. These are principles on how to implement anti-trafficking measures. What actually has already been done and where specialized instruments to tackle anti-trafficking response are needed. She highlighted that we need mainstream processes, to mainstream the action to existing policy area, rather than create more specialized instruments, more anti-trafficking units, more structures. This is also true when identifying the root-causes and consequences of trafficking, as these were very broad concepts, because these could be adjusted to the root-causes of other crimes, like domestic violence, violence against women, illegal migration. Therefore it is necessary to consider when talking about anti-trafficking whether we need more specialized tools or we need to mainstream action into existing policy area. This is also true for funding because the more new instruments we create, the more we depend on extra-funding, but if we mainstream them into existing policies, we are not so dependent on outside funding. Instead of legal exceptionalism accountability and transparency are needed, not only for people working on the field of HT, but also to the trafficked persons, e.g. who is responsible if something is going wrong. And of course checks and balances are also necessary, namely to include all stakeholders, all civil societies, parliaments when it is decided to do new policies. Regarding the regional tools, she reminded the participants about the tool of national referral mechanism, developed in Serbia, but then adopted as an OSCE tool. According to Ms. Uhl, the outcomes from the recommended working groups are almost all represented in it, so it is possible to use some of the elements of the NRM in order to have a starting point, or to use them as a cluster or to add other instruments. What she thinks was missing from the discussions is the data protection. The victims of HT are the victims of a crime, not more, not less. Sometimes the monitoring and registering of victims is over-exaggerated, so it is necessary to be aware that all data collection tools which are used should be in line with the European data protection provisions, including that victims should have access to their files, the right to rectify their files, to erase their files once the time is terminated. Regarding confiscation and compensation new procedures should be looked at because HT is an economic crime, as well. So people should be remunerated for the services they did. Luckily in Europe there is a shift nowadays so NGOs and governments tend to look more to compensation and remuneration of the trafficked persons. This gives a totally new dimension of social inclusion because the victims can start a new life with the money received as compensation.

Central table discussion 2 Mr. James Macbeth invited Mr. Wolfgang Jessen and Mr. Fabrice de Kerchove and other senior experts from the region to reflect on the question whether a step further was made and which one of the working groups seem to be exciting for them. Mr. Mitar Djuraskovic expressed that he was very surprised about the method of the Forum as it was completely new for him and the result of this creative approach was the results we have here today. He also highlighted that there was a lot of discussion, a lot of exchange of experiences and good practices and the results of all working tables were presented. A lot of consensus was achieved on what the participants want to do together in the future after the Forum. He also supports the working groups very much and he hopes that they will work. Senior Expert Pannel

According to Ms. Saliha Djuderija what she expected and why she accepted to be part of this seminar was that she hoped that there would be an opportunity to talk face to face, not in a plenary meeting. What is a great challenge is to establish this virtual communication through controlled channels which will help the participants to overcome the language barriers and hopefully they will manage to communicate as the traffickers manage across languages. According to her fighting HT is access to the right information, at the right time and in the right place. She also highlighted the importance to define the methodology of the working groups, to define what these working groups want to do and why and on this basis it is possible to talk about the products, the recommendations regarding the national characteristic of each country. She expressed the differences when talking virtually and she hopes this will function without language barriers and also to provide opportunity for the working groups to meet face to face to discuss issues which might pile up in the virtual space because everybody has other daily tasks, as well. Senior Expert Pannel

This is why it is needed to define the subjects and the areas to be discussed and the manner of exchanging experiences, knowledge and recommendations. Mr. Bajram Kelmendi was very impressed by the work and the consensus that was achieved. This method was also new to him and he believes it was very productive. He also highlighted that even coming from different countries the problems are the same and this became obvious during the Forum.

According to him it is very important to have unique, specific mechanisms to achieve progress in the working groups. His recommendation was ‘…that every working group should have a consultant or a group leader who will organise the working group, because we have a lot of work and we cannot find the time to do this, we cannot neglect our daily work.’

Virtual Platform presentation Then Mr. James Macbeth introduced Prof. Regine Schönenberg, especially by emphasizing her experience as a coordinator of virtual platforms at other GIZ projects and as an organiser of summer schools. Then Prof. Regine Schönenberg delivered a presentation on the advantages of virtual platforms as cooperation mechanisms especially having in mind that experts are located in different countries in the region. Regarding the Forum, Prof. Regine Schönenberg highlighted that ‘This workshop is a good example of learning, it wasn’t frontal, it was a working group atmosphere and mainly it was production at the tables, so it’s a modern form of learning, it is called peer learning, as well. The task is to transfer the knowledge resources to the virtual space.’

Ms. Regine Schönenberg

In terms of the Virtual Platform she expressed that ‘Virtual learning and e-learning is quite modern and in fashion, but it has its obstacles, it is not self-evident. We are doing blended learning, which means that we already know each other, discussed with each other, and we will meet again, and during this blended learning period is important to keep the expertise that we have here and to be able to work and move on regionally on the topic.’

She also mentioned as a characteristic of the Platform that ‘There is non-hierarchic learning on the platform, so it doesn’t matter what position you have, but it’s important what you contribute. The platform will show who has been active and those are recognizable and the topics which are most debated will draw the most attention, so it has to do with participation. It is self-defined, so you decide what you do and don’t do, the WGs form their own codes of conduct, working plans and they decide what they do, who they invite. This platform cannot be accessed without invitation.’ It is possible to be a member of the Platform only or to be a member of the WGs. However, being a member of the Platform only will not provide the opportunity to follow the work and the results of the WGs.

Summer School One of the main concerns expressed by many development experts regarding organizing large conference events is that despite the wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices very often the enthusiasm shared during the event fades away once everyone goes back to the normal working routine. Because of this reason the partners of the Regional Forum GIZ & KBF decided to support the continuation of the work started at the Forum in two forms. Namely, our support is provided through facilitation of the Working Groups at the virtual platform (http://trafficking-andprotection.ning.com/). These groups are offered the opportunity to discuss Human Trafficking related topics of common interest and in this exchange they are assisted by experienced facilitators, but also Leading Technical Experts. Both have an important role in ensuring that everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion is being valued and reflected in the resulting conclusions. The Summer School is yet another regional cooperation event planned as a follow up of the Regional Forum where we gathered to initiate and agree upon the priorities which will be continued at the platform on a group basis and focused on more specific issues. These three events are interlinked and take place in a sequential order, whereby the subsequent event builds on the results of the previous and takes the process of exchange one step further. The Summer School is therefore conceptualized as a wrap up for the efforts invested by the WG members by giving an opportunity to the best performing WGs to come up with tangible concepts that could be tested as part of a so called action research taking place during the Sumer School. Details of the concept will follow, however, on this occasion we would like only to brief you that some of the most promising and feasible concepts proposed by the WGs at the platform will be supported by GIZ & KBF in a very concrete manner. In addition, participants at the Summer School will benefit from learning best practices implemented in the region or in other parts of the world, concepts worked out by the WGs at the platform as well as other prominent international experts and lecturers in the field of HT. In a nutshell, the Summer School will be a combination of best practices, action research methods and learning dialogs. In order to make this an enjoyable learning experience for all of us we seek for diverse profile of participants. This might include interested participants from the Regional Forum and the most active contributors at the Trafficking and Protection platform as well as young and talented PhD students from the Western Balkans, Germany and Belgium. Apparently we do

seek diverse profile of participants; however, the common denominator for all of them would be the open mindedness to exchange, learning and enthusiasm for action research. We believe that this is the best way for us to fuel the enthusiasm expressed during the Regional Forum and to offer more sustainable and long term cooperation mechanisms in the Western Balkans.

ANNEX 1 - Results Question 1: What are your hopes for this workshop? Learning and exchanging experiences, best practices, approaches and ideas • Learn new approaches. • Learn new reintegration approaches. • exchange of ideas and contacts • learning opportunities • positive experience exchange • The forum provides a marketplace for ideas, open area to synchronise the donors and people working on the problem. • Sharing ideas about the best practices. • understanding the phenomena • discuss more specifically on human trafficking in this region • concrete ideas • strengthening cooperation • to get better insight how people work in human trafficking • fruitful experience, bring new experience to own country • better cooperation between participants Improving professional practices • evaluate methods • concrete steps • manage to go further in this area • hear new ideas for improving the system • work with marginalized groups

• • • • •

new working methods help with re-integration get a LOT OF INSPIRATION Reach the donors, and allocate the funds. better clarification of terms

Networking across the region with other practitioners • Establish strong networking. • Learn more about the situation in the Balkans. • practical examples from all phases of combating HT • new contacts with participants • experience from neighbouring countries Changing mindset • Develop new solutions for prevention. • have new approach • new knowledge • try to define new approach • social aspect • recognize need for legislative solutions • social dimension • new ideas • targeting vulnerable groups • testing of own methods for combating HT • inter-sector communication • share experience on broader topics than trafficking • Attract attention to the minority problems with HT. • Understanding the cultural approach to this phenomenon Develop a joint effort/platform, regional cooperation and future partnerships across sectors • Set up common initiatives. • Can achieve a mutual platform • develop new partnerships • NGOs start to cooperate with the government • future cooperation between participants • step for better regional cooperation

• bridging stakeholders • beginning of a Regional intervention • common regional platform Mobilisation and motivation of public and governments • what can GIZ do to improve the status-quo • motivating government • mobilise the public • what policies should be used • To create an internet or cyber connection to communicate between stakeholders in this field • Affect mindset change, send a message to NGOs and Govs to evaluate their approaches, actions and strategies. • First of all the cyber connection should be created between social society and then within the government level Strengthening communication • strengthening communication Really show the complexity of the issue (i.e. minority problems, cultural approach)

Question 2: What are your fears for this workshop? Lack of commitment of institutions • Not all of the actors of the anti human trafficking machinery are ready to commit to finding the solutions. • This topic is not a high priority for the governments • Lack of commitment • bureaucracy intervenes in successful implementation • lack of interest No follow up of event • Networking will fade away after the forum. • no follow up • It is just talking, no concrete actions after the Forum • after project ends our cooperation stops also • Conclusions will only stay written on paper. • no sustainability

• not implementing practices • lack of long term planning No new and relevant information provided • I am in the HT process for a while, I may not see/hear anything new. • may not be useful • delay of information Not meeting relevant actors • We won’t get to meet people who might be relevant for our work. • We won’t have an overview of other participants other than our table. • Conference is waste of time and money • Many conferences on the topic, but nothing happens. I fear that may be the case again. • what is the purpose Ambitious agenda • We’ll be too tired during the second day of the forum. • not enough time • not enough coffee breaks • not discussing all topics of HT because of short time • tight agenda • tiredness • boredom Lack of regional cooperation and communication • The absence of functional connection between countries in each forum • lack of team work • misunderstandings because of language barrier or bad translation • insufficient exchange of information Discussions too vague without tangible results • We might lose focus • victims telling their story • have just general debate on trafficking • no useful outcomes • self-affirmation without implementation

Lack of understanding of the real problems/scratching the surface • This forum may give the false image that the problem is getting solved, when in reality we are barely scratching the surface. • social dimension is just an aspect • We are one step behind the traffickers • The work is not based on the prevention of trafficking • some people may not understand what we want to achieve • lack of understanding of the working environment upon return

Question 3: What are the root causes of human trafficking? Lack of Information, awareness and low level of education • No knowledge of consequence • Lack of awareness • Lack of information and proper education provided for young people on the HT issue. • The campaigns do not reach the right audience • Low level of education of children, abandonment of school, manipulation of students who want to work abroad • Peer to peer education • Due to the lack of participation in educational institutions victims contacts are restricted to their family. When their family is the one violating their rights, they have no channels to access help. Parents that do not enrol their children in primary education (which is obligatory) rarely face sanctions. • Unawareness of the clients that they are committing a crime • Children on residential care are more susceptible on human trafficking • Lack of accessibility to educational services • Not having sexual education Change of family and societal values and increase in social and domestic violence • Abuse of children, parents not focused on children • Conflicts of values between generations, problem starts in the families, dysfunctional families, shifted family values • Gender inequality • Single parents (mothers) and young girls (age 18-20) are very susceptible to HT risks regarding the sexual exploitation. • The institutions and families of the marginalized groups miss to solve the appearance of the so called ‘Legally

invisible people’ that are neither registered, nor have valid documents. • The community (institutions, civil society, families, schools) is not tackling the issues of social exclusion, discrimination and persistent fight of specific forms of HT. • Sexual revolution • New modern way of life that creates demand • Cultures where it is acceptable to force marriage, and the lack of governmental reaction, where this is considered customary. • Arranged marriages (non-consensual marriage) add to juvenile parentage that stimulates HT. • Cultural acceptance of sexual services and its impact on the demand on the black market. • The degeneration of social values • Misuse of tradition and culture • Functionality of the family • Tolerance that exists in society • Race for a social status (lucrative gain) among young people and children. Individual crisis situations • Crisis situation in life of an individual which may be lost job, health, violence. • Expansion of drug addiction • Alcohol and drug abuse • Individual structure of the personality of people involved in HT • Individual causes (personal gain, fear). Socio-economic deprivation, alienation and unemployment • Poverty and economic problems are one of the main causes for getting involved into the HT circle. • Difficult economical conditions of victims, difficult material conditions • Lack of economic development in local areas. • Big number of unemployed youth • Victims expect better living conditions after being trafficked. • Lack of opportunities in the society, in terms of social-economic development. • Opportunities for economic progress of the women in different societies • Poor economical state and stratification. • Lack of access to basic human rights. • Losing connection to society. • High unemployment rates.

Discrimination, societal prejudices • The social exclusion of the vulnerable groups (marginalized ethnic minorities, children with special needs, dysfunctional families) makes them the most susceptible to HT. • Stigmatization • Not recognizing children and families which are susceptible to human trafficking. • Disadvantaged social position of victims. • Root causes also continue of how society reacts to this phenomenon • Stereotypes and prejudices (discrimination) are in the root of the social exclusion and fighting them is the key of the prevention. • Inequality of members of vulnerable groups. • People brought to the margins not only because of poverty or education, but also migrant workers, dysfunctional society, violence and sexual abuse. • Isolation of vulnerable groups from the community and the everyday social environment and its structure • Forms of HT that are not recognized by society Lack of willingness and interest of Governments to develop, implement and measure policy • Lack of willingness from governments to support victims from the very beginning. • The absence of preventive politics, insufficient governmental action on serious approach of government toward trafficking with human beings • The lack of social state principle. • Lack of money from state budget on human trafficking • The problem of HT is not on the political agenda • Lack of ability for decision making • Lack of statistics and/or standardization of information on HT cases. • No affirmation of the problem of HT by the governments. • Ministries do not understand what needs to be done Inadequate social services and access to them • Changes of social systems • The inability of the governments to organise and provide proper protection creates fertile grounds for HT. • Lack of primary prevention by centres • Lack of possibilities of social workers, lack of accessible social services. Insufficient institutional capacity • Limited capacities of institutions

Lack of legal systems to implement laws and protect witnesses and victims • Even when victims manage to identify violations, the legal system is often not capable of providing sufficient support. • Bad implementation of laws. • Judicial inefficiency • Weak witness protection programmes • Lack of policies for integration of illegally moved children. • Lack of legislation. Corruption • Corruption of institutions • Cooperation of institutions with criminals • A corrupt judicial system. Weak civil society sector and cooperation between NGOs and Government • Weak civil sector to tackle the issue • Lack of trust and contact between governmental and non-governmental institutions. • Lack of inter-institutional coordination for combating HT • Deficit of inter-sector cooperation. • Migration, globalisation and border policy issues, migrant policies in Europe, illegal migration, migration of population in terms of movements from rural places to urban places • Weak border control • Standard of living in developing countries Specific problems of the Balkans • Conflicts and wars like the Balkan countries were faced by • The porosity of borders • Balkan syndrome: this will not happen to me • Imbalance between the classes created by the global crises • Lack of collaboration between countries. HT is a profitable crime • Rapid profit • A close connection between organised crime and other sectors of society. • The existence of market makes the possible existence of the trafficking phenomenon

• • • •

Restrictive migration policies enable human traffickers to absorb victims into trafficking networks. The demand for human trafficking. If support is not offered by family or institutions it is used by traffickers. The presence of the foreign military troops in the region recomposes the ‘market of the prostitution’ and stimulates prostitution. • Mild punishments of criminals • A huge problem is that we still have a demand for victims of HT • Organised crime has a strong network in many countries.

Question 4: What are the consequences of human trafficking? Individual psychological and physical damages • Damage of the personality of victims, even more than torture victims. • Health • Trauma, psychological consequences • Bad psychological condition • Short life expectancy of the people included in the HT circle. • Deprived and vulnerable victims • Fear from protection programmes • Affects mental, physical and reproductive wellbeing. • Endangers personal security. • Impairment to control one’s own life. • Usage of drugs, alcohol • Need for preparation of individual schemes for treatment Lack of social inclusion • Inability to re-integrate • They are not integrated • Inability of the victims to return to their normal life. • Increase of social problems • Lack of social-perspective , in terms of pension funds, health insurance Increased marginalisation • For some children being trafficked is the best thing that happened to them • Increasing of risk persons

• Neglectful society • Secondary victimization. • Inability to function in the community after you were a victim of HT and the opportunities to become a valuable member of society are low. Discrimination and social stigma • Victims are stigmatized in their communities. • Family stigma ‚trying to hide the past • Charges the stereotypes, prejudices and social exclusion • Causes of discrimination. Failed • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

short and long-term re/integration and treatment for victims and their children and re-trafficking Long-term treatment Re-trafficking, reintegrated victim can easily become a victim again if she/he is not accepted in the community, Lack of resources and institutional support for effective combating of HT (unclear institutional competences). Exhaustion of those who work directly with victims Neglecting the integration and re-integration. Double victimization Reintegration process doesn’t work because the victim doesn’t believe she/he can reintegrate. Children of victims are left behind in the reintegration processes. Less trust, faith in and reliance on families and communities, trust in societies is diminished. Insecurity Family degradation, abandonment of babies Increase of the number of children (part of HT circle) under age of 13 abusing drugs. Higher percentage of people that will be socially non-functional and out of the legal labour market. Effects on their families Loss of faith in the ability of systems to protect, victims become demoralized. Impact on society: all members of society are suffering from consequences of human trafficking Increasing of outgoings from countries Lack of trust in institutions

Obstacles, false data and inabilities within administration • False number of victims because of bad implementation policies. • Obstruction of state building processes. • Increase of the illegal migration • Lack of institutions for treatment and rehabilitation of HT victims.

Bad judiciary practices feeding criminality • Strengthening of criminal structures, increase of criminality • Criminalisation of victims through the justice system. • Fear of result from court decision • Need of continuous legal support • HT stimulates other forms of criminal behaviour (drug abuse, violent crime, robberies etc) • Stimulation and advancement of criminal groups. • Corruption stimulating Economic and financial pressures increase • Financial burdens for the state: high cost of treatment, expensive to re-integrate the victim. • Spending resources: Need to plan additional expenses for programming and prioritising • Need for additional programs Lack of information, awareness and danger of silo-thinking • Lack of awareness to report a case • Being named international, creates an international group of people working on it • Increase of the number of other categories that needs social care

Question 5: Identify challenges to be addressed in the following years New approaches for prevention (working with families, identification, education, etc) • Uprooting the problems which lead to HT ‚family issues • Social shift of awareness towards working actively with families from vulnerable groups • Maximize prevention • To tackle the problem of parents forcing children to work • Citizens have lack of information and knowledge on the legal regulations, instruments and risks related to the HT. • Sensitivity of the media in filtering the information that can stimulate HT, and their role to help the process of combating HT through dissemination and public education. • How to use the educational institutions to inform about HT, and how these institutions can act as preventive mechanisms. It is also important to have the relevant staff available for the purposes of these activities. • Lack of proper identification of the victims of HT. • Prevention of juvenile and arranged marriages. • Accenting protection and prevention mechanisms and establishing appropriate (de)centralized methods for early

• • • •

prevention and ensuring continuity of the action. Mobilization of volunteers and citizens for assistance and engagement in CSOs and peer-to-peer action. Overcoming of attitudes and perception of the general public and enabling access to information. Empowering of the local capacities for identification and prevention of the victims of trafficking Lack of sustainable funding provided by the governments and political willingness.

NGO-Governmental cooperation and coordination among governmental institutions at all levels • Capacity building of NGOs • Lack of coordination between the different stakeholders that can work on combating HT (institutions, NGOs, media, business sector) at all levels. • To have systemic certified NGOs which offer help to victims • Creating national and international teams • Increase of trust between the municipal government, local institutions and NGOs. • Better cooperation and communication between governmental agencies and NGOs with regards to supporting groups at risk (so they do not become victims). • A challenge is to coordinate the different interests between relevant stakeholders (NGOs, State Institutions, Social services etc.). All the stakeholders have an interest to change the status-quo, but what is important is to focus on sharing information among each-other as well as having joint programmes, activities that can be beneficial for the people in need. • The preparedness of the educational system to tackle these issues throughout the educational process and help the prevention. • Health institutions should provide information regarding violence that can be useful for the social services which are working in the respected field. • Build an inter-institutional (government-NGO) and cross-border system of referencing for good practices and specific actions • Alliance between local governance, police and NGOs and support local initiatives because often victims are lost between institutions. • Advocating and implementing a multidisciplinary approach to combating HT. • Strengthening the existing system and creating a functional system through establishing meaningful partnerships between institutions, monitoring and evaluation with clear indicators that will measure the effectiveness. • Empowering of national and transnational mechanisms of reference • Creation of field-focused shelters to know where to address the suitable victim • Improving the local / national social services and the access to them, strengthening decentralised local service delivery. In specific, the challenges should be to increase the visibility of the social services, encouraging the vulnerable groups to use the services that are available for them, adapting the social services, so they can cover more people in need and dealing with the corruption in the social services.

• Challenge for the social services is to reach the families. • Social centres and NGOs need better human and financial resources, especially at the level of local communities. Equipping the local centres with specialized staff. • Creating sustainable, long term education for the staff combating HT. Addressing new trends and target groups • Proper actions that correspond to new trends • Internal HT focusing especially on child trafficking • Better and more accurate identification of risk groups and victims. • How to deal with people that do not have identification documents. There are many groups that are out of the system in general, and that reflects the struggle against HT. • Amend the obsolete definition on what constitutes a trafficked person in the Law on Human Trafficking • Education of people who migrated and are invisible for the legal and state system. • Address internal human trafficking more aggressively. • Governmental action on long-term basis • Sustainability of shelters to follow the process until the end • Mobilizing the political will to the HT problems • The Youth policies should try to underline the importance of the struggle against HT. • Lack of funds, trafficking is not budgeted by the government • Ensuring appropriate legislative regulation with established standards, enabling policy intervention (ex. migration, labour rights, children’s rights) and ensuring implementation on operational level. • Ensuring of political support for implementing of strategies and policies • Appropriate assessment of budget requirements for implementation of needed and planned actions and adequate budget allocation. • Policy re-definition and creation of operative plans of financial, coordination and intervention issues • Corruption fighting and judiciary empowerment for punishment policies • Creation of a regional strategy that will have institutional support. • Sustainable financing Social • • •

inclusion, reintegration, economic empowerment at all levels of society Provide practical life skills through the educational institutions Lack of funds for rehabilitation and employment of trafficked victims Overcoming stereotypes, stigmatizing and prejudices in order to achieve higher level of reintegration of the HT victims. • The state should stimulate and support the business sector to act in a socially responsible way in reintegrating the victims in the labour market.

• Promoting social responsibility and accountability among individuals on a personal as well as professional level in other sectors (ex. education, health). • Creation of models of economic empowerment and self-sustainability. • Reintegration of victims in the absence of funds • Help victims to be able to benefit from the services that are being offered, because the reality often doesn’t meet their expectations • Long term reintegration and follow up of victims of human trafficking, avoiding re-victimization but also the risk to put them back in endangered environments and re-trafficking. • Social inclusion in the countries of destination and tackle the lack of political willingness. Regional cooperation • Better and more open regional cooperation and communication on a political level among the Balkan countries and also with the receiver countries. • Creating a unified form which will be used by all countries for how to accept and help the victims returning to their home countries. • Enabling regional partnerships and cooperation. • Establishing new partnerships and strengthening regional cooperation and coordination between different stakeholders.

Question 6: Action Area 1: Strategic solutions Working with the media, including social media and special campaigns • Involve the journalists and the media in conferences and working groups so they will understand the issue better. • Use the media and VIPs in specific tailor-made policies for target groups. • Educate the media on the issue so they will give a more realistic picture of the problem. • Use short movies or clips with famous people to inform children. • Art and media in the service of prevention: NGOs, artistic groups and individuals, media and municipal institutions should enhance various artistic forms that will send the message against HT and increase the awareness of the issue. The forms might encompass: comics, paintings, graphic pictures, photos, theatre plays, videos, TV documentaries and shows and music. These forms should be customized for specific target groups. • Status quo: Lack of reaction of people who encounter risk groups in other sectors with different areas of expertise How: Campaigns, trainings, courses Who: local municipalities, public administration, etc • We should target consumers of goods in order to brake the chain of HT through creative campaigns, outreach work, local events as awareness raising campaigns

• Put the issue of HT in schools, how to identify HT, how to avoid becoming a victim, using everyday examples, especially with new technologies (Facebook, online messengers) • Educate the general public on what is expected to do about the cases of HT they meet e.g. not to provide them money but buy food, speak to them, etc. Peer education and participation of vulnerable groups • Street action on the spot: Social workers, NGOs and non-uniformed police forces, sponsored by the state, to work together on communicating directly with the HT victims (children) in order to educate them and change their perception on their way of life. Coordination should be mutual and effective. The methods should be non-violent and non-obligatory but dedicated to social learning instead. • Organise peer-education in schools and out-of-school activities (sport clubs, internet cafes, etc.) so they can inform their friends about the issue. • Destroy the dream policies - inform people about the real picture of what awaits them in receiver countries. • Work on personal story lines with young people (what are your dreams, what do you want to achieve, etc). • Peer-to-peer education in different levels. The idea is to have educators who will have the responsibility to share the knowledge with different interest groups. • Universities should introduce multidisciplinary courses, that can tackle the issue of HT • Prevention program, tailored to reflect the needs of the specific group. • We need specifically designed social services that do know the demands and requests of vulnerable groups, so they can act as a preventive mechanism. • Multidisciplinary approach: A good example is the U.K. model where all the relevant actors meet monthly (or more often if necessary) to discuss potential HT cases in the community, and create safe plans to prevent HT. When working with children, those actors would be the teachers, local police officers, medical staff and all interested parties. This process is led by a social worker. • Specialization of the staff on a local level • Education of the local leaders. • The cultural and traditional issues that may affect the perception of that group in terms of HT, needs to be tackled. • Status quo: Youth and children are dropping out of education, face discrimination in educational institutions leading to more exposure of becoming victims of HT How : Raising awareness of school staff, additional attention by school staff towards students with problems, professional work with students and their families by pedagogues, social workers, etc Who: elementary and primary schools, CSOs • Introduce the mentorship program especially for children growing up in institutions as a vulnerable group for HT and train them on money management, how to plan their living after they exit these institutions Develop Identification mechanism of potential victims • Regulation and Law enforcement: The legislator should enact stricter and more concise sanction (penal) system.

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The police have an increased role in the persistence of the law enforcement process, in the border crime combating, patrolling in front of the suspicious clubs and mobility. The persistent law enforcement will send the message of serious problem-solving approach. The NGOs should regain the trust of the institutions by specializing in certain fields of expertise and obtaining licenses for their work Local coordination bodies: NGOs, doctors/hospitals, schools, social centres, Red Cross, youth offices, police and municipal governments should organise structure to develop mechanisms for identification of potential victims. These mechanisms will encompass questionnaires, reports and opinions from different areas of life that have the everyday contact with vulnerable groups and could identify the potential victims that they can work with. Improving the mechanism for identification/ determine who is in danger of HT? That will make the job a lot easier so that we can focus on specific measures for prevention We should use the already established social services, to develop preventive programs for HT Case by case identification of the affected social groups. NGOs and social services should develop a new strategy, a new approach towards reaching the families of vulnerable groups. Use specific new tools to target the group of families under poverty condition and low level of information. Status quo: Young people without parental care turning 18 (16) years are getting out of the social care system with no follow up, becoming potential victims. How: Following UN guidelines on alternative care, employment programs and affirmative actions. Who: Agencies for employment, CSOs, Ministries Status quo: Lack of insight in the actual problems of victims and risk groups. How: Focus groups, research, communication with victims and people who are part of risk groups. Who: CSOs

Strategic mapping and involvement of stakeholders, needs, values and policies • Underline the importance of value building. • Value promoting policies oriented towards everybody who is a promoter (the families, teachers, sports clubs, VIPs, etc). • The solution has to be a combination between introducing health care reforms and Educational institution reforms • To give economic perspectives (training and jobs) to people, as a method for preventing HT. • The topic of human trafficking should be a part of cross-border cooperation between the countries in the region, applying for funds available from the EU • Systematic response addressing all the root causes • Strategic initial planning of the intervention: map the stakeholders and create a unit for multi-sector, holistic and regional analysis led by national governments. • Establish local/municipal data gathering & exchanging focal points. • Involved stakeholders: Education, youth, social care, employment and health governmental and civil society structures/institutions. Media, local units and village representatives, Religious structures, youth centres and

info-points. • We should target specific groups and adjust the campaign on the targeted groups.

Question 7: Action Area 2: Strategic solutions Professionalization and specialisation of civil society organisations, retaining their independence • The NGOs should regain the trust of the institutions by specializing in certain field of expertise and obtaining licenses for their work • Preservation of the role and the dignity of the NGOs: On the one hand the public institutions should rely on the capacities and activities of the NGOs. On the other hand, the institutions must refrain from exerting influence over the objectivity and work of the NGOs. The NGOs should be perceived as a genuine partner and collaborator and not only service provider. Another improvement on the part of the NGOs could be their specialization in some of the HT aspects (accommodation, social reintegration, economic empowerment) and avoidance of working in too many areas. • Minimum standards must be set for the work of the NGOs on the field of HT. • Standardization, specialization and quality assurance in offering the services for the victims: The state should control the quality of the HT victim shelters and the NGOs should be serious in pursuing the quality of the services and observe the standards for accommodation and offering help. High criteria for independent work and a practice of accepting all the victims must be the highest priority. • Status Quo: Lack of formal recognition of CSOs’ work, no licensing or certification as service providers. How: Registry of CSOs by an appropriate ministry or agency, standards of work and certifications of CSOs fulfilling standards. Who: Appropriate ministries or agencies, local governance • Status quo: No funding or inappropriate funding by government institutions towards CSOs (lack of calls, small funds, too limited types of funding, no admin costs, etc) How 1: A system for regular financing of service providers (ex. fee per registered person) How 2: A fund in the yearly program designated for CSOs, institutional grants. Who 3: Appropriate ministries or agencies, local and national governments • NGOs should coordinate among themselves (network) to increase the faith governments has in them. • Better use of the current, general and formal offices for NGO-Governmental cooperation: The current structures are not fully used in their full capacity. The issue of HT will be more visible if these offices are revived and put into full function. The NGOs should stimulate the Government to renew the work of these bodies that are currently too passive. These bodies will gain their role in the areas of prevention, coordination and education. • Clear roles and responsibilities in order to offer social services for victims of trafficking • Training of local services in order to be more effective in reintegration of victims

Creation of multidisciplinary task forces at local level • Creation of mixed units (social worker, police, NGO representatives), designed to identify HT violations, prevent and protect. • Creation of Guidelines for regional monitoring teams on assistance to victims of trafficking: These Guidelines are prepared by regional monitoring teams comprising all the stakeholders from the HT fighting process (Representatives of the Ministries of interior, education, social policy, NGOs, centres for social policy etc). The Guidelines encompass the purpose of the monitoring, the exchange of good practices and methods, specification of the services offered to the victims etc. • Create agency cooperation task forces on a local level. • Appoint an inter-agency coordinator on a local level. • Partnership between central and local level for good results • Empowerment of the role of Ministry of Local Government • Creating a clear strategy from the state in order to be implemented from the local institutions • Involved stakeholders: Ministry of Finances, Ministry of Local Government, self-contribution of municipalities, Experts of decentralization field, Police, Health institutions, youth services. Mechanism of NGO-Government-Donor cooperation, interaction and standardisation • Signing memoranda where the roles of both sides (Government and NGOs) are going to be clearly explained and clarified. • Mutual planning of the sustainability of services provided by NGOs with the support of Government • Having regular meetings between representatives of Gov and NGOs for coordination how to implement each activity they have agreed upon • Structured dialogue and cooperation in NGO-Government networks at all levels: Creation of genuine partnership between the NGOs, competent Ministries (interior, labour, health, education etc), municipal governments, media etc. These partnerships should take form of consultation forums which embrace the principle of partnership and equality between the factors. Specification of tasks and competences of each factor must replace the ‘omnipotent’ approach of all the factors. • Permanent and structured partnership between the NGOs: NGOs working in the HT area should be mutually complementary and work systematically on using their full capacity. Instead of competition and decrease of working standards, structured partnerships could help for better use of available funds (joint applications for funds) and keeping the standards of combating HT high. • Basing identification and prevention on joint standards produced by NGOs and government. • Status quo: Lack of cooperation on local level CSOs – authorities How1: dissemination of information, bridging service providers with authorities. How2: Task forces dealing with cases. Who: local municipalities, associations of municipalities, associations of mayors • Coordinate international partners.

• Invite representatives from foreign government agencies to visit local centres in order to familiarize themselves with the situation on a local level. • National employment agencies need help from the NGOs when determining appropriate employment options for victims of HT. • Mixed management of social services between local and private institutions • Continual communication over a prolonged period. • Motivation of municipalities to separate from their budget for HT issues

Question 8: Action Area 3: Strategic solutions Set up • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

local multidisciplinary bodies and task forces to address the needs of vulnerable groups Involve local schools and health organizations. Identify individuals on a local level that can work on these issues. Build trust among individuals that work on combating HT on a local level. Form local groups consisting of representatives of different sectors (NGOs, social centres, police, etc.) that will work under a code of conduct with the purpose of sharing and disseminate relevant information. Creating units of support on local level consisted of profiles needed (ex. representative of the police, social worker etc), very important is not to create new institutions but use current structures and introduce to them the action plan. That way we gain the benefit of multi-sector cooperation. Mainstreaming the topic of human trafficking on local level Providing free services (health, social care) on local level for victims Allocate budget to local municipality for proving support to their victims Engaging the business sector in various ways which may include: funding, employment, social responsibility service, creating other ways of fund-raising, including victims in their training or apprentices. Mixed and on-the-ground specialized teams of governmental and non-governmental organizations who will help the municipality provide social services on local level. Involved stakeholders: National coordinators, Social services, Non government partners, experts, researcher Capacity building, standardisation and quality control of services New capacity building policies designed for local communities. Localize successful practices in the region. Encourage training exchanges with teams that have implemented such successful practices. Strengthening skills on local level. Capacity building trainings to municipality officials and social workers, enable them to take a proactive role To build capacities on fund raising of NGOs Meetings between NGOs and business sector on ways they can collaborate.

• Municipality should improve its deliverance of social services by providing staff training and employing professional staff who can deliver the social aspect of its responsibilities. Improving and developing strategies for the implementation of outreach services and service delivery • Many of the services on local level should be given to NGOs on local level because they have greater outreach and keep anonymity. • NGOs should focus on awareness raising on local level • NGOs should engage in peer–to-peer education in local communities • The central and local government should implement a pilot program for few municipalities whose results will help the decentralization of the responsibilities, services and funds on national level. • Coordination and cooperation through frequent regular monthly meetings on local level and central level including the Ministry of Local Self-Government to discuss implementation of policies and concrete steps • Clear procedures of referring the child trafficking cases in order to avoid delays. Regional Coordination • National coordinators must create the connections between countries • Best practices of each country in the region to be presented in order to create a regional strategy • Creating a continuously regional coordination which would have meetings at least 1 to 2 times per year

Question 9: Action Area 4: Strategic solutions Designated process/responsible organisation for monitoring and analysing new trends, setting indicators, locating target groups, assessing risk and stakeholder communication and qualification • Status quo: New trends and target groups appear, due to lack of information for recognizing it as HT they slide through the system and are not recognized as HT and are not processed in the programs (i.e. illegal migration, internal migration) Who: A national body for monitoring and analysis of new trends. What: A national governmental body is formed to follow the new trends, locate target groups and assess state and risk factors and developments, and disseminate information to stakeholders (CSOs, Centres for social work, Labour Inspection, Border control, Migrant officers). Thus, stakeholders will be better prepared to locate and react on HT, assess situations and report issues, and a body will be responsible for collection and analysis of information. How: Analysis if there is an existing body that could undertake this task or if a new one is needed. An initiative is submitted to the responsible ministry / assembly commission for the establishment of the proposed agent - responsible body (e.g. National Rapporteur, an existing coordinative mechanism, etc) will be responsible for the process, submitting reports, etc. The terms of responsibility of this body can be prepared by CSOs, international community, government representatives and other stakeholders.

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Identification of the victims needs to be clear Understanding the phenomenon of HT is important so that all relevant factors are on the same page. Pro-active approach in dealing with victims involved in HT Cooperation between all relevant stakeholders must be improved The municipality should have a more active role in the process of prevention of activities that may lead to HT. The key - stakeholders must have a victim - oriented approach. Open discussions about the topic of HT, encouraging discussions about the new trends in HT, as well as possible target groups. Methods that can be used are: 1) schools, 2) families, 3) social services, 4) comics, magazines, manuals that are attractive to vulnerable groups. In-depth research for the new trends and target groups in the region. Comparative research is needed in order to determine the situation. Early warning reports should be more often made for the topic of HT. The reports should serve as a method to exchange information for the situation in the region, as well as to provide us with the perspective needed, in order to determine the means of struggle for this problem Public awareness campaign using the social media. Explaining the new trends and target groups throughout the social media. Training for employees in all key stakeholders. There is a need of continuous learning in regard to the process of HT. Setting clear indicators for labour exploitation Increase the awareness of stakeholders as well as work on strengthen the cooperation between them, so there can be a flow of information, as well as in-depth knowledge about the new trends in HT. Providing feedback among the stakeholders on the tools they are using should be an activity.

Question 10: Action Area 5: Strategic solutions Judicial reform • Enhancing witness protection programs of victims in criminal trial. • Insisting on a judicial reform so victims can be paid material and emotional damages in criminal cases if there is a legal base for such a thing. Positive discrimination and compensation of those affected by HT • Establish a special fund for compensation of victims based on confiscation laws and supported by the Government. • Government subsidization of victim employment within the private sector. • Prioritization of HT victims in the labour market.

Participatory and longer term anti-HT policy making processes • Establish participatory processes in designing governmental policies. • Establish consultative processes in designing governmental policies. • Involve specialists to work on tax policies on a legislative level in order to provide funding specifically for antiHT policies. • Government should support shelters on a long term basis in order to ensure sustainability.

Question 11: Action Area 6: Strategic solutions Market oriented and sustainable economic empowerment of trafficked persons • The government should include the business community by providing subsidies to those businesses which will hire a victim of human trafficking • The Government needs to provide more job opportunities for victims of HT on a long-term basis. • Provide vocational training for victims. • Cooperate closely with employment centres. • Stimulation of the business sector to take active participation in the reintegration and economic empowerment: The Government should grant benefits to the companies that will give opportunity to the HT victims either to work or to practice internships. That will help the decrease of stigmatization and will give the victims a chance to provide for their own independent economic life. • Creating and implementing training programmes (life skills) for the victims by Ministry of Labour based on local level needs • System of offering vocational training for the HT victims: The Institutions for employment policy and small enterprises could offer vocational training for the victims that will in the aftermath of it help them to start-up their own independent business and provide economic independence. • Employment policies that are HT sensitive: The Employment authorities should give precedence and advantage to the single parents (mothers) in the employment stimulation and job providing in order to help the social inclusion and prevent potential HT. The assistance to this end could be offered by the Red Cross, the social centres and NGOs. • Approach through education, educational support. Organise workshops to help victims to develop skills, provide vocational trainings based on the want -demand on the market. Cooperation with Ministry of Education to give them intense classes. • Vulnerable groups should be able to use training that will help them improve skills needed to find a job. • Provide everybody access to rights - economic, small grants for establishing business, social, education rights, • Victims should be recognized within existing programs/projects for economical empowerment for marginalized groups.

• Well - known companies should offer special programs for jobs - positions for victims of HT. • Leaderships programs for personal empowerment. Developing self confidence and esteem, communication skills, leadership skills • Recognition of the victims of HT as special categories in the national employment agencies. • Broad sector of incentives for employers of HT victims. • Improving access to justice for trafficked persons • Provide good and accurate legal advice to the victims regarding their rights. • Provide reliable support for victims during and (most importantly) after court trials. • Systematic measures for registering the persons outside the legal registries for the citizens: Ground activities that seek to identify children and families that are neither registered nor hold any valid documents. These activities will contribute to the social inclusion and enjoyment of the civil rights provided for the citizens (personal ID documents, social welfare programmes etc). The activities are conducted by the competent public institutions (Police, Social centres, Schools) but also with assistance of the NGOs. • Obtain best interest of the trafficked persons. This may be done by guardians for trafficked persons. They could be their legal representative and take care of them as guardian. We should translate this existing model from that is being applied on children being trafficked to all victims of trafficking. These should be NGO representatives, because they could focus individually on cases and be in constant coordination with the social worker. • Legalization of the concept of compensating victims with the property of the criminals convicted for HT. Strategies for long-term, sustainable well-monitored social and emotional integration • All aspects of rehabilitation and reintegration should receive strong and tangible support from the Government. • Rehabilitation of domestic victims of HT is more difficult than rehabilitation of foreign victims and it should be addressed more thoroughly. • Domestic victims of HT need at least one-year long (and even longer) rehabilitation programs. • Send domestic victims to shelters that are not in their local communities so that they don’t come in contact with the people they were working for or their clients. • Facilitate the contact and communication between victims and trusted members of their families. • Provide reliable and long-term psychological support for victims. • Encourage cooperation between centres that specialize in different aspects of rehabilitation. • Conduct research about the social situation of victims in local regions. • Publication of manuals for professionals and students of social work on concrete steps and procedures on how to work with all vulnerable groups and identifying their particular needs which would provide sustainability of the social inclusion programme. • Multidisciplinary approach from all relevant institutions, NGOs and service providers for social inclusion, reintegration and economic empowerment • Sustainable program for empowerment of victims of trafficking.

• Governments should create a strategy. A strategy that is sustainable, created with the input of various organizations, individuals, foundations that work in the field. • Governments should introduce affirmative action for the victims of HT. • The approach must be individual, created especially for every victim • Supporting the families throughout the re-integration process. • Provide social and emotional support of victims that would include: developing new contacts, create new safe network, acquire social support. Awareness-raising on overriding social issues • Awareness-raising activities: media campaigns for citizens to react on neglecting, violence, abuse and identify potential HT cases or trends.

ANNEX 2 - Speeches Minister Mr. Spiro Ristovskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech First of all, a very good day to you all. We are quite busy of course, because the parliament is in session and we mustnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disregard the parliament because they are the ones who elected us and they can get quite mad if we do not show up on time. Distinguished Government Representative, distinguished members and representatives of NGOs, dear ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, it is a great honour for me to be here with you on this afternoon, and to open this significant gathering on a subject, topic which raises personally but also socially great concerns. HT is one of the modern global problems which affects various areas and interests of society such as human rights, organised crime, migration, morality, economy as well as other areas. HT is not only a crime, it is also a socio-pathological appearance (phenomena) and must be seen from the aspect of interconnectivity and inter-dependence of many social factors. It is a serious breach of human rights leaving great consequences for the victims, families as well as for the countries where they come from. Thus, one of the strategic priorities of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the MLSP is development and improvement of national policies to combat HT, prevention in all relevant aspects, raising awareness as well as establishing institutional mechanisms for protection of the victims of HT as well as elaboration and implementation of programs for re-socialization and re-integration of those victims in society. The MLSP has initiated and implemented measures and activities regarding prevention and protection of victims, but also strengthening the capacities of expert personnel in the centres of social work and labour inspection. We also made amendments to the legislation, namely the family law, child protection law as well as the social protection law. Within the Ministry there is a department of equal opportunities which includes an office for coordination of activities within the national referral mechanism for victims of HT which is responsible for accepting and referring victims for the first state-run centre for victims of HT opened in February this year. We have urgent need for a wider perspective including wider sector of actions undertaken by governmental and nongovernmental organizations, together with a full arsenal of ideas, approaches and tactics, we have to fight against this social evil against human dignity and against the criminals benefiting from it. This is exactly the reason why we are here today and these few days to share our ideas in order to prevent that women and children become easy prey for those traders profiting on their problems. Esteemed guests, allow me to thank to our partner, the German Development Cooperation, for their contribution to the work of the MLSP and I would like to stress out once again that our greatest aim is to combat HT and to implement the highest standards for effective protection of victims, using the whole institutional proceeding at disposal. I wish you a successful work.

Ms. Elena Grozdanova’s speech from Ministry of Labour and Social Policy - Sector for Equal Opportunities THE NATIONAL REFERRAL MECHANISM FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy within the Sector for Equal Opportunities has started work in the area of Human Trafficking in 2005 with the support of OSCE Mission and with the implementation of the project ‘National Referral Mechanism for Human Trafficking Victims (NRM)’. By implementing this project, several systemic changes were done towards prevention and protection of human trafficking victims, with an emphasis on children. NRM embodies a good practice of coordination and cooperation with trained social workers from 30 Social Centres (in 30 cities of RM), with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Unit for Combating Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration and NGOs. The assistance and protection of the human trafficking victims is based on respect of human rights and liberties, children’s rights and in accordance with the Standard Operational Procedures for Treating Human Trafficking Victims adopted by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has initiated and implemented measures and activities that deal mainly with protection and prevention of human trafficking victims and strengthening the capacities of professionals in the Centres for Social Work and Labour Inspection. Also, changes and supplements were done to the Law on Family, Law on Child Protection and Law on Social Protection to create a legal basis for the activities implemented by the Ministry. In February this year was opened the first State Shelter – the Centre for Human Trafficking Victims which completes the institutional framework for human trafficking protection. In accordance with the legal regulations, this Centre shelters human trafficking victims, citizens and foreigners, who have received a temporary residence permit. The direct assistance and support comes from two non-governmental organizations that the MLSP has signed a Memorandum for Cooperation. The accommodation capacity is sufficient for the current needs and in accordance with the law, the victims can be accommodated for 6 months whereas in the meantime the CSW works on finding a long-term solution for accommodation. Since the opening, the Centre for Human Trafficking Victims has accommodated 9 human trafficking victims. The establishment of the Centre was also a result of the need to improve the quality of the services that are provided to the human trafficking victims, identified during the field work of the National Referral Mechanism. In the Centre, besides the professional workers from the Centre for Social Work, there are two non-governmental organisations ‘Happy Childhood’ and ‘Open Gate’, i.e. non-governmental organizations which currently provide direct support and assistance to human trafficking victims and are financed by the Government of RM. During the following period, being the most suitable ministry we need to be dedicated more on prevention and undertaking

proper measures and activities which will influence the social factors that encourage human trafficking and to act on the roots of this phenomenon and also focus on re-socialisation and re-integration of the human trafficking victims. Dear guests, In the end, allow me to thank GIZ and all our partners for the honest support that provide to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and to emphasise once more that our greater goal still remains the contribution for combating human trafficking and implementing the highest standards for efficient protection of human trafficking victims as a full institutional response.

Ms. Stana Buchowskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech Approaching the social dimensions of Human Trafficking Among the countless conferences and meetings that have taken place recently on the subject of trafficking, this one is evidently different. By placing its emphasis on the social dimensions of human trafficking, it is encouraging all key players on the anti- trafficking field to take a holistic approach to the problems. This is an important development that will permit to prepare the ground for a renewed regional response based on the shared view that human trafficking is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; inter alia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; also a social problem. Although many governmental and non-governmental initiatives took place in the region of Western Balkans lately, truly comprehensive and integrated approach tackling the various aspects of a social dimension of the trafficking phenomenon needs to be developed. That includes identification of trafficked persons, social protection understand as one of prevention measures of human trafficking, reintegration, social and labour inclusion of trafficked persons. Strengthening the cooperation among the various national institutions and organisation is also a sine qua non condition to eliminate this form of the modern day slavery. Challenges to be addressed Discussion about social aspects of human trafficking should start with the recognition that poor social conditions and marginalization of trafficked persons are both root causes and consequences of the crime of human trafficking. Both the trafficked persons and potential trafficked persons are often the most vulnerable groups of the society, they are marginalised in a different way. On one hand we can see poverty, unemployment, domestic violence and sexual abuse in the family, dysfunctional families and social environment, health problems, situation of irregular migrant workers - as factors that push members of the society to its margin, and are therefore conducive to trafficking, - on the other hand - trafficked persons are also marginalised, not only because they are victims of the crime and they are wronged, but because they are often treated as a perpetrators rather than victims and often face unfair treatment based on stereotypes and prejudices. Moreover, they are often subject to secondary victimisation in the process of criminal proceeding.

Observing a practice of implementation of programs for victims of trafficking, one can perceive that relatively low number of victims accepted the offer of being received and assisted by NGOs when they are returned to their countries of origin. Outreach to trafficked women is problematic everywhere. So the question to ask is how to create a programme promoting the outreach work. In a process of developing support programmes is there any feedback from the beneficiaries? What steps could be taken to ensure such feedback? How to secure a participatory approach involving the trafficked persons in a process of developing programmes for them? How should be the effectiveness of the policy measured? How to ensure the higher quality in this work. Stronger connections are also needed with the NGOs in the countries of origin. I think that there is a dilemma to be answered: should we try to make trafficked people accept what we offer, or should we just offer what they will accept? How can we measure the extent to which policies and services will be accepted by the people concerned? What are the indicators? And is there not a risk of creating golden cages for trafficked people in the countries of destination – they will be provided with empowerment, vocational training and safety for a brief time, but then the shock of being sent back to the old reality in their countries of origin will be all the greater. This is the reason why opted for individual action plans. The point is to enable each person to earn a living when they return to their own country. In a concept of social inclusion of trafficked persons we can move a step further from what is often understood as social welfare assistance. A social inclusion that contains also a labour inclusion of trafficked persons means a qualitative step further with a focus to empowerment of trafficked persons and respecting their agency in every step of the process of development of the assistance program. We have seen a number of anti-trafficking assistance initiatives designed very carefully and financed generously with a significant low number of beneficiaries. In various action plan’s evaluation we can see that stated that it is problematic that only low number of beneficiaries accept the offer of being received by an NGO in their respective country of origin. This is not a special problem of Western Balkans. Majority of social assistance programs/projects in Europe are facing very similar difficulties. In the past decade of anti-trafficking work in Central and Eastern Europe we have observed several programs and activities – both national and international (bi-lateral and multilateral programs) that failed because of the small number of persons who benefited from it. It is important to analyse main reasons of it. What is among the main reasons is the fact that many anti trafficking initiatives are designed on the policy making level and are not confronted enough with the first hand, grass roots level’s feedback. Therefore, final beneficiaries are not involved in the process of program creation. An attitude “we know better what is good for you” may result in a lack of interest in projects that do not reflect real needs of trafficked persons. Otherwise – the frustration is double – of service providers who were convinced that are doing their best and the trafficked persons who cannot benefit from a program that not meets their real needs. Though there are some examples of good practices regarding the social and labour inclusion of trafficked persons. In Poland – for instance - there was a program of social and labour inclusion developed.

Good practice Model IRIS – (Identification - Reintegration – Independence – Sustainability) - social and labour inclusions of trafficked persons was a pilot project implemented within the Equal program of the EU structural funds. A new model of social and labour inclusion has been developed within it. A formal partnership of NGOs (La Strada Foundation, Center for Empowerment of Women), local government (Labour office of the city of Warsaw, Warsaw social welfare centre), and governmental institution (Ministry of Social Policy and Labour) was established to develop and implement a model of social and labour inclusion. The model includes three pillars.1. identification of trafficked persons and crises intervention; 2. motivation, empowerment, coaching, vocational training, 3. internship and employment. A number of innovative methods have been used in IRIS model. Agency of the trafficked persons is a central in the entire process of development and implementation of the project. Human rights approach, empowerment, coaching as a core element of the process of social and labour inclusion have been incorporated into the entire process of implementation. One of the follow up goals was mainstream this model and to incorporate into a broader social policy. This model can be also use to assist different categories of marginalised groups – victims of a domestic violence, unemployed persons, etc. Social efforts and identification of victims of trafficking The most of victims of trafficking are assisted by specialized NGOs, some charity organizations as well as social welfare institutions providing a social assistance. A prerequisite of appropriate and efficient social assistance is an effective identification of trafficked persons. There is a recommendation to increase a role of NGOs and social service providers in a process of identification and to enhance their cooperation with the law enforcement. More accessible information, especially legal and about services provided for all trafficked persons, including migrants should be provided in order to facilitate self-identification of trafficked persons and their access to services and justice. Condition of social assistance and outreach work The major contact with trafficked persons is established via hot lines, or trafficked persons are referred to NGOs by the police or a border guards, by other NGOs from countries of destinations, or they directly contact service providers via hot lines, rarely clients of sex services refer trafficked persons anonymously via hot lines, as well. Only few organization are providing an outreach work and this is focused often on the work in sex sector. There is a need to enhance the outreach work that will help to identify victims of other forms of trafficking, such as forced labour, domestic servitude, slavery like practices, forced begging, and other forms. Another obstacle that needs to be addressed is a conditionality of a social assistance provided for trafficked persons. Unfortunately, often social services are limited only to persons who agreed to cooperate with the law enforcement. In order to improve situation of trafficked persons, social assistance should be provided unconditionally. The provision foreseen in law – like a reflection period – should be applied in practice much more often as they need to create a circumstance conducive to a proper social assistance and recovery of trafficked persons.

What is needed to be done in order to approach social aspects of trafficking effectively? • Tackle the root causes – reduce poverty and social injustice, reduce unemployment • Address domestic violence and sexual abuse in families • Address the vulnerable situation of labour migrant workers, particularly those who are exploited and therefore more at risk of trafficking; • Support and enable dysfunctional families to improve their situation • Implement the complex program of social and labour inclusion of trafficked persons that will follow the general principles of work with trafficked persons based on principles of: a. Respecting the agency of trafficked persons b. Participatory approach c. Empowerment of trafficked persons • raise awareness on risks of trafficking and promote safe labour migration among particularly vulnerable group • facilitate an access to reliable, tailor made and “user friendly” information for target groups Recommendation • monitor the existing social protection schemes and to improve their quality based on findings • promote individualised, tailor made programmes of social services • promote and implement social and labour inclusion programmes for trafficked persons based on individual needs assessment and participatory approach of beneficiaries; • to promote a regional cooperation and to improve implementation of the regional coordination mechanism in the region.

ANNEX 3 | List of Participants Table 1 Name and Surname

Institution

e-mail

Elfi Hirsch

GIZ

Elfi.Hirsch@gmx.net

Gerrit Rauws

KBF

RAUWS.G@kbs-frb.be

Stevan Popovic

MLSP

stevan.popovic@minrzs.gov.rs

Artur Marku

TDH

artur.marku@tdh.ch

Marijana Savic

NGO Atina

marijana.savic@atina.org.rs

Klara Ilieva

NGO Nadezh

klara.ilieva@csinadez.mk

Sabiha Husic

NGO Medica

sabihask@bih.net.ba

Marijana Meshi

NGO Different and Equal

mmeshi@yahoo.co.uk

Maria Antonia Di Maio

Expert in economic empowerment and re/ integration of children

redsirius@hotmail.com

Guenter Grzybek

GIZ

guenter.grzybek@giz.de

Table 2

Name and Surname

Institution

e-mail

Sasa Gosic

Border Police Directorate

ozsimtlj@mup.gov.rsÂ

Petrit Sopjani

IOM

PSopjani@iom.int

Branka Pavlovic

GIZ Consultant

brankapavlovic22@gmail.com

Irena Puzic

Ministry of Human Rights

Irena.Penc@mhrr.gov.ba

Jasmina Rajkovska

NGO La Strada

jasmina.rajkovska@t-home.mk

Silke Maier-Witt

Forum Civil Peace Service

silkemw@gmx.de

Aida Bekic

NGO Save The Children

a.bekic@scn-see.ba

Sanna Stockrom

GIZ

sanna.stockstrom@giz.de

Veronique Mampuya

City of Antwerp

veronique.mampuya@stad.antwerpen.be

Table 3 Name and Surname

Institution

e-mail

Samir Rizvo

National Coordinator

Samir.Rizvo@msb.gov.ba

Marija Gligoric

NGO Astra

am@astra.rs

Melita Gruevska -Graham

ICMPD

Melita.Gruevska-Graham@icmpd.org

Jovana Mihajlovic

UNGIFT

jmihajlovic@iom.int

Ardiana Kasa

NGO Tjeter Vizion

dkasa@hotmail.com

Neil Whettam

TDH

neil.whettam@tdh.ch

Dragan Jokovic

Executive director, Citizens association for the promotion of education of Roma â&#x20AC;&#x153;OTAHARINâ&#x20AC;?

dragan@otaharin.org

Tanja Rajic

Center for Social Work Pozarevac

tanjarajic@sbb.rs

Stasha Vidovic

GIZ

stanislava.vidovic@giz.de

Rebecca Surtees

HT expert and Advisor to KBF for TVRP

rsurtees@nexusinstitute.net

Table 4

Name and Surname

Instition

e-mail

Sasa Rasic

National Coordinator

Sasa.Rasic@ks-gov.net

Marie Kuenstling

Pulse Foundation

marie.kuenstling@cimonline.de

Tatijana Temelkovska

OSCE

Tatijana.Temelkoska-Milenkovic@osce. org

Jelena Miloradovic

UNGIFT

jmiloradovic@iom.int

Mara Radovanovic

NGO Lara

ngo.lara@teol.net

Katrin Adams

GIZ

katrin.adams@giz.de

Annelies Laeremans

NGO Pag-Asa - Belgium

annelies.laeremans@pag-asa.be

Ivana Stevanovic

Child Rights Center

ivana@cpd.org.rsÂ

Regine Schoneneberg

Free University Berlin

regschoen@aol.com

Hamijet Dedolli

NGO PVPT

hamijet_dedolli@yahoo.com

Table 5 Name and Surname

Institution

e-mail

Sanin Prasovic

Rapporteur/ Assistant to the Coordinator

sanin.prasovic@msb.gov.ba

Claire Cody

Expert in child trafficking

Claire.Cody@perth.uhi.ac.uk

Vlatko Aleksovski

GIZ

vlatko.aleksovski@giz.de

Nevena Milutinovic

Save The Children. Norway

n.milutinovic@scn-see.ba

Valbona Citaku

Hope and Homes for Children

vqitaku@yahoo.com

Baerbel Uhl

Chair of the experts group on combating HT in Human beings at the EC

mail@baerbel-uhl.de

Vladimir Petronijevic

Group 484

office@grupa484.org.rs

Martina Bunk Georgieva

NGO Animus

animus@animusassociation.org

Daniel Kennedy

CIM expert

daniel.kennedy@gmx.at

Table 6

Name and Surname

Institution

e-mail

Krste Maljanovski

Director of the Inter-Municipal Centre for Social Work

krstemaljanovski@yahoo.com

Mitar Djuraskovic

National Coordinator

ozsimtlj@mup.gov.rs

Amela Efendic

NGO

amela@mfs-emmaus.ba

Nada Blazevska

Social worker

nada.blazevska@t-home.mk

Mirsada Poturkovic

Social Worker (Kantonalni centar za socijalni rad Sarajevo)

info@kcsr.ba

Dubravka Milovanovic

GIZ

dubravka.milovanovic@giz.de

Ahmet Jasharevski

NGO Drom

ahmet_drom@yahoo.com

Vesna Melezovic

Red Cross

jelena@redcross.org.rs

Table 7 Name and Surname

Institution

e-mail

Svetlana Cvetkovska

Counselor for protection and prevention of HT

SCvetkovska@mtsp.gov.mk

Rrahim Ternava

Rapporteur

rrahim.ternava@ks-gov.net

Bajram Kelmendi

MLSW

bajram.kelmendi@ks-gov.net

Gani Lluga

Consultant/NGO social issues

ganilluga@hotmail.com

Ratko Trimceski

social worker

trimcmk@yahoo.com

Kumrie Bytyqi

Social worker

qpsprizren@gmail.com

Verica Trajkova

NGO Happy Childhood

vericatrajkova@gmail.com

Sanija Burageva

NGO Equal access

sanija_burageva@yahoo.com

Rrezarta Jashari

GIZ

rrezarta.jashari@giz.de

Atina Murgashanska

Regional center for development of the Nort-East Region

atina@northeastregion.gov.mk

Valbona Jaha

Interim Securitiy

vali3210@gmail.com

Table 8

Name and Surname

Institution

e-mail

Naime Sherifi

Centre for Protection of Women and Children

naime_sherifi@yahoo.com

Shyqeri Mehmeti

Social worker

shyqerimehmeti@hotmail.com

Arian Cala

NGO Tjeter Vizion

aricala@gmail.com

Sanja Savic

Agency for Coordination

sanja.savic3@gmail.com

Tanja Junuzagic

GIZ

tatjana.junuzagic@giz.de

Adile Basha Shaqiri

MLSW

adile.basha@ks-gov.net

Mirsada Bajramovic

Association â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zemlja djeceâ&#x20AC;?

Hug.zemd@bih.net.ba

Nurka Babovic

Social Worker (Centar za socijalni rad Zenica)

nurkab@yahoo.com

Saliha Djuderija

Ministry of Human Rights

Saliha.Djuderija@mhrr.gov.ba

Valbona Bogujevci

DFID

v-bogujevci@dfid.gov.uk

Wolfgang Jessen

Fabrice de Kerchove

Programme Manager

Project Manager

“Regional Programme on Social Protection and Prevention of Human Trafficking” Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

King Baudouin Foundation

Antonie Grubisic N° 5 1000 Skopje , Macedonia

Rue Brederodestraat 21 1000 Brussels, Belgium

T +389 2 3103 570 E Wolfgang.Jessen@giz.de I www.giz.de I www.htsocialprotection.org

T +32 2 549 02 45 E dekerchove.f@kbs-frb.be I www.kbs-frb.be