Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye

Back Advancing knowledge on technologies and digital investigations in human trafficking cases

Mona ALGHAITH

Modified 2 Months ago.

Advancing knowledge on technologies and digital investigations in human trafficking cases

A three-day training course on the use of advanced technologies and digital investigations in human trafficking cases opened in Novi Sad on 3 June 2026, bringing together police officers and public prosecutors from across Serbia.

Opening the training, participants were addressed by Nenad Simić, National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator at the Ministry of the Interior, who highlighted the importance of the recently adopted comprehensive Law on the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Human Beings and the Protection of Victims. He stressed the need to ensure its effective implementation and operationalisation, alongside the advancement of strategic priorities in the field of combating trafficking in human beings.

Tatjana Lagumdžija, Chief Public Prosecutor of the Appellate Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad, emphasised the growing importance of strengthening capacities for digital investigations and the collection of electronic evidence. She noted that technology presents both challenges and opportunities in combating human trafficking and underlined the importance of close co-operation between the police and prosecution services in addressing increasingly complex cases involving digital tools.

The increasing use of digital technologies has significantly transformed the way human trafficking networks operate. Recruitment, control and exploitation of victims are increasingly facilitated through online platforms, social media, encrypted communication tools and digital financial transactions, creating new challenges for law enforcement authorities and prosecutors in detecting, investigating and prosecuting trafficking offences.

The training aimed to strengthen the capacities of police officers and public prosecutors to effectively investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases involving the use of digital technologies. Building on a similar training organised in Niš in 2025, this activity represents a follow-up effort to further enhance specialised knowledge and practical skills in the field of digital investigations. The training is also foreseen under Serbia’s Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2024–2026, reflecting national priorities in strengthening institutional capacities to address technology-facilitated trafficking. Through expert presentations, case studies and practical exercises, participants will enhance their understanding of technology-facilitated trafficking, develop skills related to digital investigations and electronic evidence, and further promote a victim-centred and human rights-based approach.

The training was jointly organised by the Council of Europe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Centre for International Legal Cooperation (CILC). It is implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe project “Strengthening Anti-Trafficking Action in Serbia”, part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, the IOM Regional Migration Governance Programme funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and the regional project “EU Support to Strengthening the Fight Against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans (EU4FAST)”.

Novi Sad 3 June 2026

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What is the Horizontal Facility?

The joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative and one of the results of the Statement of Intent signed on 1 April 2014 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, in which both Organisations agreed to further strengthen their co-operation in key areas of joint interest.

The programme is ongoing since 2016 and the third phase begun in January 2023 for a period of 48 months. The third phase of the programme (worth €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE) keeps building on the results of the previous phases and it combines Beneficiary-specific and regional actions.

It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

Themes covered by the Horizontal Facility include:

strengthening justice
fighting corruption, economic crime and money laundering
promoting anti-discrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (including LGBTI, minorities and Roma) and
promoting and protecting freedom of expression and media

The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism that provides legislative expertise and policy advice within the Council of Europe system remains also an important part of the programme available to all Beneficiaries.

The Horizontal Facility relies on the Council of Europe’s unique working methods, whereby tailor-made technical co-operation activities are based on conclusions and recommendations of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies highlight areas where improvements are needed in legislation and policies of the Beneficiaries to comply with the Organisation’s treaties and other standards.