A new online training under the action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia” has brought together 36 lawyers from Serbia to strengthen their capacity to handle trafficking cases and protect victims’ rights. The course is organised in cooperation with the Serbian Bar Association and the Bar Academy, with support from the HELP Programme in the Western Balkans.
Participants will explore topics such as victim identification, access to justice, the principle of non-punishment of victims, available protection mechanisms etc. The course also provides an overview of the standards under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Opening the course, Jasmina Mikić from the Serbian Bar Association welcomed the continued support of the Council of Europe in providing training for lawyers aimed at strengthening the understanding and practical application of human rights standards.
Nenad Simić, Head of the Office for the coordination of anti-trafficking activities and National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator at the Serbian Ministry of Interior, highlighted that a comprehensive Law on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protection of victims has been developed and is expected to soon enter parliamentary procedure. He stressed that effective action against trafficking requires strong partnerships, a multidisciplinary approach, and a solid legal and policy framework.
Representing the Council of Europe, Mirjana Majstorović, project coordinator, underlined the crucial role of lawyers in ensuring effective protection of victims’ rights. She noted that trafficking in human beings is both a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights that deeply affects the dignity and integrity of victims, requiring effective legal responses and strong protection mechanisms. Jasminka Peruničić Allen, Council of Europe project coordinator, presented the HELP Programme, its methodology, and certification process.
The course is tutored by Tijana Kostić, a lawyer with extensive experience in the anti-trafficking field. Through interactive modules, case studies and practical examples, participants will strengthen their knowledge and skills for handling trafficking cases.
The action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia” is implemented within the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (2023–2026).
The HELP course on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings introduces the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, exploring as well the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, relevant instrument issued by the European Union, and other international legal instruments, along with national good practices. The course is focused on the protection of the victims of human trafficking.
The course was updated in 2024 under the EU-CoE 'HELP in the EU III' Project, in close cooperation with the CoE Anti-Trafficking Division.
The course is primarily addressed at legal/justice professionals (judges, prosecutors, lawyers, court staff), but could also be useful for law enforcement authorities, national human rights institutions and equality bodies personnel, experts on trafficking in human beings intervening in judicial proceedings and professionals working within the victims’ protection system and other persons working in the field of non-discrimination, as well as staff of civil society organisations, law students etc.
The course is available in self-learning format, which has a duration of 13 hours. Regarding Western Balkan languages, the updated course has been translated and adapted to Bosnian and Serbian. Upon completion, users can generate their electronic Statements of Accomplishment, in proof of their acquired knowledge and skills.
HELP courses are intended, in the long term, to become an integral part of the overall learning curricula of the national training institutions and/or other competent authorities of the CoE member states and beyond.
