Description

In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (UN Trafficking Protocol). The Protocol obliged states to criminalise human trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and assist victims. Twenty years later, it is one of the most ratified UN instruments and human trafficking is a major issue of international concern and activism. However, it has also attracted considerable criticism for leading to serious human rights violations of trafficked persons and other vulnerable groups.

In 2020, to mark the 20th anniversary of the Protocol, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women partnered with Sharmila Parmanand to lead a series of conversations about the Protocol and anti-trafficking work more broadly, their successes and failures, and opportunities for improvement.

In this episode, we speak with Marija Andjelkovic from the Serbian NGO ASTRA - Anti-Trafficking Action. Marija reflects on the changes in the situation with human trafficking in Serbia - trends in the recruitment and exploitation of victims, as well as the responses by the government and NGOs - since 2000. She emphasises the need for the government to implement its obligations in practice, as well as to strengthen the protection of victims.

Find out more about ASTRA's work at https://astra.rs/.