The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) has developed this policy paper, which summarises key findings from its fieldwork, including identified challenges and examples of good practices in providing legal aid, supporting integration, and strengthening protection mechanisms for vulnerable groups. The publication builds on BCHR’s long-standing experience in delivering legal assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, and other persons on the move, highlighting the importance of timely and accessible legal aid in reducing the risks of exploitation, trafficking in human beings, and irregular migration.
The paper further analyses migration trends, as well as the institutional and legal framework in Serbia, identifying key gaps in access to rights, coordination among stakeholders, and the functioning of protection systems. Based on these findings, it offers practical recommendations aimed at improving access to legal aid, strengthening inter-institutional cooperation, and developing sustainable, long-term solutions for protection and integration, in line with relevant European and international standards.
The publication is available in English at this LINK.
The Serbian version is HERE.
* The activities presented in this document were implemented from April 2025 to April 2026 within the project “EU Support to Strengthen the Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans” (EU4FAST), implemented by a consortium of partners and financially supported by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Ministry of the Interior of the Italian Republic, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
