Justice for victims of human trafficking does not end with a conviction, it must also include compensation. To help close persistent gaps in access to redress, the Council of Europe has produced a new guide for institutions and organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina with proposals for strengthening compensation mechanisms for victims of human trafficking. The guide sets out how legal, institutional, and operational improvements can be advanced within the country’s existing constitutional framework, creating the conditions for consistent and effective compensation.
Anchored in the BiH Anti-Trafficking Strategy 2024–2027, the guide proposes practical pathways for introducing compensation mechanisms within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s decentralised criminal justice system, spanning state level, the two entities, and the Brčko District.
Compensation is a cornerstone of a victim-centred approach. It encompasses both financial and non-material redress through criminal proceedings, as well as the seizure and repurposing of traffickers’ assets to benefit victims. These measures support recovery, reintegration and trust in justice systems.
The guide is one of the outcomes of a 12-month Council of Europe project to strengthen access to justice and effective legal remedies for trafficking victims. The project worked closely with justice, interior, security and human rights institutions, prosecutors’ offices, police agencies, training centres, bar associations and civil society. The overarching aim was to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in advancing compliance with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, drawing on GRETA’s recommendations.
Targeted trainings enhanced professional skills in ethical victim interviewing, illegal asset seizure, victims’ rights in proceedings, and regional co-operation - particularly on child trafficking and forced begging. In parallel, awareness initiatives helped young people recognise online trafficking risks, spot warning signs, and avoid common traps.
As the Council of Europe marks 20 years of its Anti-Trafficking Convention, the first international treaty to place the protection of victims' rights at the heart of the action, this work reinforces a clear message echoed in the New Democratic Pact for Europe: calling for stronger pan-European efforts to dismantle criminal networks, protect victims, and ensure social reintegration of survivors of trafficking and modern slavery.
The project was implemented under the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022–2025) and funded through voluntary contributions by Norway, Germany, Belgium, and Slovenia.
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