Belgrade centre for human rights project is a part of the Multi-donor action “EU Support to Strengthen the Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans” (EU4FAST). It is a collaborative effort spearheaded by a consortium of partners comprising organizations such as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Austrian Ministry of Interior, and others[1]. Together, they aim to enhance measures aimed at preventing and combating migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings across the Western Balkans region. Adopting a comprehensive 4 – P approach encompassing Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership strategies, the project seeks to bolster the rule of law in this area.
The project’s operational teams, including a diverse array of experts such as police officers, legal advisers, and protection specialists, work closely to provide tailored support to national and regional institutions. This active engagement at the operational level not only strengthens the capacities of these institutions but also aligns with the Western Balkans’ aspirations for EU accession. By addressing critical elements of migrant smuggling and trafficking, the project aids in the advancement of the 6 Western Balkans partners towards their EU enlargement goals.
The Belgrade Centre for human rights project will improve the conditions for preventing and combatting migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings in the Western Balkans. Particularly, the project will improve provision of primary legal, access to territory, access to asylum procedure and and integration and reintegration support of the (potential) smuggling and trafficking in human Beings victims. It will improve cooperation with authorities and other frontline workers to identify and provide multisectoral protection to (potential) THB victims and refer them to competent state and non-state assistance and support services.
Project components are: field visits and providing free legal counselling at Commissariat for refugees and migration: asylum, reception and transit centres and provision of primary free legal aid an access to economic – social rights. The work of the Rainbow Migration Network (RMN) established under the GIZ implemented project in 2022 by 16 CSOs working in the field of asylum and migration and rights of LGBTI+ persons, and continue its work for the purpose of strengthening CSOs capacities and advocating for increased attention to the needs of LGBTI+ refugees, asylum seekers and people on the move.
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[1] The German Federal Police (Bundespolizei), the Dutch Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), the international technical cooperation operator of the French Ministry of the Interior CIVIPOL, the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Slovenian Ministry of the Interior.
