prijava
SARAJEVO, July 27 (FENA) - Human trafficking is a complex problem and requires a very complex response that includes prosecution of human traffickers, assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking, prevention, and coordination between all institutions and non-governmental organizations operating in this field, it was said today in Sarajevo at an event called 'Together in the Fight Against Human Trafficking'.
The event was organized by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of the Human Rights Support Program (INSPIRE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and on the occasion of marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
It was also an opportunity to sign a grant award contract with four non-governmental organizations that will implement activities and initiatives aimed at protecting victims of human trafficking in the coming months.
Acting Director of the USAID Mission in BiH, Savannah Thomas Arrigo, said that they are signing four new grant agreements with civil society organizations that will continue the fight for prevention and against human trafficking.
She said that USAID has so far supported civil society organizations and the fight against human trafficking in BiH with about 1.5 million USD through 14 different grants.
„These funds are intended for legal and psycho-social support for victims of human trafficking, but also for supporting organizations that prepare them to testify in cases against human traffickers. A part of these funds is also allocated to help BiH government institutions that fight against human trafficking, including law enforcement agencies, ministries and others,“ said Arrigo.
She says that USAID's support to civil society organizations is only one part of the assistance they provide to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fight against human trafficking.
„We are also trying to help Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen its legislation, that is, through strengthening of judicial institutions and all other relevant institutions that fight against human trafficking,“ said Arrigo.
She pointed out that they are very proud of their cooperation with civil society organizations, but also with the Ministry of Security of BiH, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, cantonal prosecutor's offices and cantonal teams fighting against human trafficking.
State Coordinator for the fight against human trafficking at the BiH Ministry of Security, Samir Rizvo, said that human trafficking, as a serious form of crime that is often organized and cross-border, but at the same time very serious form of violation of human rights and basic freedoms, is present in BiH and considering all the circumstances in society that are present will exist in the future.
„Therefore, the BiH Council of Ministers adopted the Strategy for the fight against human trafficking. All levels of government have adopted action plans for the implementation of the strategy, and for several years we have been working to prevent and suppress human trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina,“ said Rizvo.
He says that it is a very complex problem and requires a very complex response that includes prosecution of human traffickers, assistance and protection of victims of human trafficking, prevention, and coordination between all institutions and non-governmental organizations operating in this field.
„All this time, for several years, the US Government and USAID have been helping the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as non-governmental organizations, to combat human trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the third time, we are witnessing the conclusion of a cooperation agreement, by which USAID allocates funds to non-governmental organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina so that they all fight together against human trafficking,“ said Rizvo.
The representative of the organization Center for Women's Rights, Selma Badžić, who today signed the contract on the award of grants, said that this is the second cycle in a row that they have received grant support through the USAID/INSPIRE Human Rights Protection Support Program.
„We are glad that we can continue our efforts aimed at directly supporting victims of human trafficking, where the majority of current cases relate to a large number of minors,“ said Badžić.
She stated that the Center for Women's Rights, through this grant program, will continue to provide legal support, but also psychological support to victims of human trafficking, to strengthen and prepare them for the criminal proceedings themselves, especially in the act of obtaining a property-legal claim, i.e. compensation for the caused damage for victims of human trafficking.
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