Further number of child education professionals in Serbia are equipped to recognise child trafficking

After the valued first training session for all the 18 school boards in Serbia, implemented in October 2021, and thanks to the great support from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, two additional training sessions on preventing and detecting child trafficking were held from 23 to 27 May 2022 in Sabac for 50 education advisors and counsellors from 50 schools throughout Serbia.

With the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social affairs, Ministry of Health and NGO Atina, the participants discussed warning signs and specific indicators for preliminary identification of trafficking and exploitation amongst pupils, competent public services to approach for consultation and procedures to follow in potential cases of trafficking.

The education advisors and counsellors consolidated their understanding of the phenomenon of child trafficking, their important role and the existing tools for timely detection and assistance of potential child victims of trafficking. They also got acquainted with the Digital Prevention Platform “How to protect yourself from human trafficking”, the video “Between dreams and reality” (INCLUDED BELOW ARTICLE), both developed by NGOs Child Rights Centre and Atina, and the Ministry of Education guide on the usage of indicators for preliminary identification of pupils at risk of trafficking.

By the end of the year, the education professionals will organise different activities (such as meetings, workshops, school day events) to introduce the topic to fellow pedagogues, teachers, and members of the parents ‘councils, the Violence Protection Team.

The Action “Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings in Serbia“ is part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.