By Ivona Zakoska and Myra Albu

It is a well-known phenomenon that trends in human trafficking are prone to change. The first time that such a change in human trafficking trends in the Western Balkans was observed was in 2004, when a major shift in the origin of the victims took place. There were suddenly fewer young South Eastern European women smuggled through mountains, hidden in vehicles or surpassing mountain trails to be sexually exploited in night bar venues in the conflict affected areas. Later, they were identified, together with young female nationals, in the same bars which were sent of home and not were even questioned let alone considered to be mistreated, abused and/or exploited.

Since that time, those of us working in this area in the region have observed several other shifts in both the modus operandi of traffickers, as well as the specific profiles of their victims. These small and subtle changes presented great challenges to the authorities engaged in identification and prosecution of the phenomenon. It was not only a slightly different way in how they victims were harboured in the country or whether their passports were kept by the bar owner, his brother or the bar owner’s girlfriend or where they resided (in the bar or at an apartment); suddenly, there were very few foreign nationals, mostly coming now from the neighbouring countries, and these potential victims began exhibiting fewer overt signs of having been trafficked. Some potential victims even started sharing in the profits made by their traffickers which further hindered the already low self-awareness of the victims that they are trafficked consequently diminishing the prospect for self-identification.

As a sequences of an omnibus, the region witnessed cases with significantly different scenarios:  there were cases of girls from the Western Balkans trafficked in Western European countries with promises for marriage and better life, young boys trafficked and forced to beg in both their countries of origin and abroad (Italy, Austria), and adult men trafficked to work on construction sites in the countries of the former Soviet Union...

While these cases were recorded by the authorities, not enough were identified in order to draw conclusions and motivate a dynamic change in the already well-established counter trafficking systems within the region. Regional and country-based research done in the past also confirmed some of these new trends; however, rarely contributed with specific and practical recommendations for a way forward. Practitioners, of course, both from national institutions and civil society organizations, forming the front line of each country’s counter trafficking response, observed these changes and the shifts taking place.  However, the practioners, due to their direct involvement, could not see the forest for the trees; they were unable to clearly see the whole situation. Given this, it was and somewhat still is difficult for them to assess what they need in order to tackle these new, continuously developing situations(s) and create up to date responses with the traffickers’ modus operandi.

The above situation inspired the IOM Regional Office’s in Vienna Migrant Assistance Division (MAD) to commission a group of experts to carry out a needs assessment in the Western Balkans in order to provide clarity and concrete recommendations to those working on the issue in the region. 

In September 2013, through the support of the IOM Development Fund and a complementary contribution by the Italian Government, IOM commissioned a seven-month needs assessment on the human trafficking situation in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina [BiH], UNSC resolution 1244-administered Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). The purpose was to collect and summarize stakeholder views of the mechanisms and resources available to combat TIP in the region. The assessment sought to identify key gaps related to the identification, referral, assistance and support for trafficked persons. Stakeholders were also asked for their recommendations on how to strengthen existing responses, correct inappropriate processes and rectify fundamental gaps in the resources available for counter-trafficking efforts at the regional level.

The primary focus of the needs assessment on the prompt and accurate identification of cases of trafficking and their appropriate referral and assistance reflects how fundamental these steps are to any effective response to trafficking in persons. Without proper identification, it is not possible to identify, apprehend and prosecute members of trafficking networks, or to generate the data required to inform prevention activities and improve policy responses. Without appropriate referral and support for all persons who experience trafficking and exploitation, it is not possible to have a comprehensive response to this phenomenon. As such, the needs assessment focused on these two key components of trafficking responses in the region.

The needs assessment identified a total of 20 primary findings focusing on those issues most frequently cited by informants and respondents. The recommendations based on the findings seek to address the primary gaps and priorities identified at the regional level. They reflect the suggestions made by interviewed informants and survey respondents, as well as the priorities set by stakeholders discussed and validated at the stakeholder validation workshop. They include Identification of trafficked persons; Support and reintegration services for trafficked persons; Support and reintegration services for trafficked persons; Criminal justice processes; Government commitment and resource allocation; and Attitudes that hinder the response to trafficking in persons.

For those of you interested more in the assessment findings, the report can be accessed at: http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_7&products_id=1416