Roma health mediators strengthen their skills to prevent child trafficking

Back Roma health mediators strengthen their skills to prevent child trafficking

Roma health mediators across Serbia are better equipped to recognise early signs that a child or family may be at risk of trafficking and know where to turn for help, following a capacity building session focused on preventing trafficking in human beings.

With regular access to Roma communities and direct contact with children, women and families, Roma health mediators can play an important role in identifying vulnerabilities early. Thirty mediators strengthened their practical knowledge of trafficking risks, warning signs and appropriate responses, including how to use available support and referral mechanisms.

According to data from the Centre for Human Trafficking Victims’ Protection, 75 victims were formally identified in Serbia in 2025, including children in 41% of cases. Identified forms of exploitation included labour and sexual exploitation, as well as forced marriage, forced begging and forced criminal activities.

The session was opened by Nenad Simić, National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator, who highlighted the importance of strengthening prevention and early identification of trafficking, particularly among children and communities exposed to increased risks of exploitation.

The session was facilitated by national experts Marijana Savić and Lidija Đorđević from the civil society organisation Atina, with contributions from representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and the Centre for the Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings.

The activity was organised by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Interior and the Action “Strengthening anti-trafficking action in Serbia”, implemented within the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and contributes to the implementation of Serbia’s Action Plan 2024–2026 for the implementation of the Programme for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2024–2029.

The training also responds to GRETA’s recommendation to further involve Roma health mediators in the prevention and detection of trafficking in Roma communities and strengthen their capacity through targeted training.

Zlatibor 11 September 2026

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The Council of Europe Office in Belgrade was opened by the Secretary General on 16 March 2001, as a contact point for co-operation with the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which had applied for membership in the Council of Europe. The work was already underway on joint projects. It has remained in place ever since.

Serbia became the 45th member of the Council of Europe in April 2003, a development that was a natural consequence of the major political changes which took place in autumn 2000 and which allowed Serbia to claim its rightful place among the democratic states of Europe.

Through the Office in Belgrade, the Council of Europe continues to assist the country in its process of democratic reforms and its European integration. In recent years, the Office, in close co-operation with the Serbian authorities, has supported reforms of democratic institutions, the rule of law, human and minority rights, including of the Roma and the LBGTI communities, and local and regional self-government.

The Office also continues to assist with co-operation regarding economic, social, cultural, scientific, legal and administrative matters, and in the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Belgrade Office: Results in 2025