Bosnia and Herzegovina

Organisation
La Strada Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was established in 1997, first registered as Women Development Centre in 1999 and re-registered as La Strada in 2003. Next to the national coordinator, Ms Fadila Hadzic, the staff includes a social assistance manager, a prevention and education manager, three shelter managers and one hotline worker. Next to the permanent staff, a team of professionals comprised of a psychotherapist, a lawyer and a gynaecologist provide support to the organisation on consultancy basis.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are signs that trafficking has increased and is shifting. There is a great deal of internal trafficking and trafficking into BiH of foreign women from high risk countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Romania) has increased, probably through 'fake' marriages with BiH citizens. The problem of child begging and persons with special needs being trafficked for the purpose of forced labour is still inadequately researched.

Information & Lobby
La Strada BiH continues to monitor the state's adherence to human rights principles and the protection of trafficked persons. In this respect, La Strada BiH has encountered problems with the ministry of security, which demanded the Bosnian La Strada shelter becoming a closed shelter, thus denying freedom of movement for our clients. This, however, would violate the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (commonly known as the Palermo Protocol). Contrary to governmental instructions, La Strada BiH continues to run an open shelter and continues to lobby for open shelters as it is the only way that basic human rights of trafficked persons can be guaranteed.

Prevention & Education
La Strada Bosnia and Herzegovina continues working towards the establishment of a common and comprehensive system of prevention in education and the efficient implementation of preventative programmes aimed at pupils and youth, the general public, professionals and potential users of services of trafficked persons through information campaigns. Next to this, La Strada BiH has started activities aimed at raising level of awareness about the existence of other forms of human trafficking, particularly forced labour and forced begging.

Social Assistance
La Strada Bosnia and Herzegovina provides comprehensive care and support for trafficked persons. The most frequent referral mechanism of trafficked persons takes place through the IOM during the process of repatriation in cooperation with police departments, state border offices, centres for social work and other NGOs. Next to basic help and care programmes, La Strada BiH offers vocational trainings such as foreign language courses (Italian, English), computer courses, support in job seeking and support in continuation of education. The La Strada BiH social assistance team participates in trainings for professionals to share experience in working with trafficked persons.