Horizontal Facility
What is the Horizontal Facility?
The Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey (Horizontal Facility) is a three-year programme funded by the European Union and Council of Europe.
The initiative focuses on three themes: ensuring justice, fighting economic crime as well as combating discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups. It aims at assisting beneficiaries in South-East-Europe to comply with Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process.
The Horizontal Facility will cover actions of the Council of Europe in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia as well as Kosovo*. Turkey will not be recipient of technical assistance but may benefit under this Facility from the Council of Europe legislative expertise under the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
Actions
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the actions “Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings” in Serbia and North Macedonia as part of the European Union and Council of Europe programmatic framework “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey”. The projects support the national authorities in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, by addressing the legislation, policy and practice in particular fields.
The actions intend to address the following objectives:
- Improve detection and identification of, and assistance to, victims of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation by enhancing the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach
- Strengthen the framework for effective access to compensation for victims of trafficking
- Facilitate safe return and reintegration of victims of trafficking
The actions started on 1 October 2016 and will finish on 23 May 2019.
Action on trafficking in human beings in Serbia (also available in Serbian)
Action on trafficking in human beings in North Macedonia (also available in Macedonian)
Resources
SERBIA
- Report on trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation in Serbia (also available in Serbian)
- Leaflet for victims of trafficking in human beings: Understanding your rights and the support you can expect (also available in Serbian, Albanian, Hungarian and Romani)
- Pocket-guide for labour inspectors on the detection and preliminary identification of victims of trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation (only available in Serbian)
- Specific recommendations for actions and measures to be taken by trade unions (only available in Serbian)
- Specific recommendations for actions and measures to be taken by recruitment agencies (only available in Serbian)
- Specific recommendations for actions and measures to be taken by businesses (only available in Serbian)
North Macedonia
- Report on trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation in "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"* (also available in Macedonian)
- Leaflet for victims of trafficking in human beings: Right to Legal Aid and Compensation (also available in Macedonian, Albanian, Romani, Serbian and Turkish)
- Leaflet for victims of trafficking in human beings: Understanding your rights and the support you can expect (also available in Macedonian, Albanian, Romani, Serbian and Turkish)
- Pocket-guide for labour inspectors on the detection and preliminary identification of victims of trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation (only available in Macedonian)
- Recommendations for Trade Unions, Employment Agencies and the Private Sector (only available in Macedonian)
Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje
* As of 12 February 2019, the official name of the country changed to North Macedonia.
