"Only through a good cooperation and coordination between police structures and labour inspectorates we can make progress in the identification and investigation of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation. This will result among others in a better assistance of the victims" said the State anti-trafficking Coordinator Samir Rizvo at a workshop with law enforcement officers and labour inspectors, organised on 25 and 26 July 2023, in Konjic.

Human trafficking for labour exploitation remains under detected and under reported. Labour inspectors can play a frontline role in the identification and assistance of victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation. They have a range of measures at their disposal. This makes them an important partner of criminal law enforcement authorities.

Twenty five professionals, members of the anti-trafficking teams from all administrative levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina, participated in a workshop organised by the Council of Europe’s project „Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Bosnia and Herzegovina“. They worked in groups and discussed a guidance document defining a framework and principles for joint operations and cooperation with a view of identifying and referring victims of trafficking for labour exploitation for assistance and protection.

This work is part of the efforts to implement key recommendations of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings for Bosnia and Herzegovina and in particular the recommendation to the authorities to ensure that labour inspectors, law enforcement officers and other relevant actors increase their outreach work to identify victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation, paying particular attention to at-risk sectors.   

Furthermore, the 2022 Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation was promoted at the workshop.

The guidance document will be finalised and completed with operational instructions. The documents will be disseminated to relevant institutions in the country (ministries of internal affairs and inspectorates) for implementation. The anti-trafficking project will continue to work on improving the coordination of professionals as well as to build their capacities in order enhance the effectiveness of the fight against human trafficking for labour exploitation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.