10.05.2006

The training was opened by Mr. Vinko Dumančić, Director of Central Investigatory Office of SBA BiH. The above mentioned topic was of an utmost importance for the inspectors of SBA, who give their contribution to prevention of such criminal acts and its forms. National Coordinator of La Strada BiH, Mrs. Fadila Hadžić presented the work of La Strada BiH, stressing the importance prevention of all forms of criminal acts and of creation of a strong civil society, harmonization of the work of law enforcement agencies and their organization, included in the project of prevention of trafficking in human beings and protection of human rights of victims.
The following is the list of the topics discussed:

1. Legal characteristics of criminal act of cross border smuggling of human beings-lecturer, Mrs. Jasmina Gafić, Office of the Public Prosecutor of BiH

2. Definition of smuggling in accordance with international conventions
3. Smuggling of human bengs in the concept of Criminal Code of BiH (legal characteristics)
4. Processing of convicts at the State Court of BiH for smuggling of human beings- lecturer, Mr. Salem Miso, judge.

5. The role of the prosecutor in the investigation– lecturer Mr. Božo Mihajlović, Office of the Public Prosecutor of BiH
6. Methodology of discovering and resolution of criminal acts of cross border smuggling of human beings
7. Modus operandi of smuggling of human beings (the role of SBA, Office of Public Prosecutor and State Court of BiH)
Presenting the three level activities of La Strada BiH, National Coordinator, Mrs. Fadila Hadžić, stressed that trafficking in human beings (THB) is generally viewed by SBA from the aspect of migration problems, although they should view it as a problem of organized crime. At the same time, journalists in BiH view it as a sensational news for their headlines, while „La Stradu BiH“ percieves it as a complex problem that certainly concerns every citizen of BiH. It is also the most serious violation of human rights of trafficking victims, which can present as seriously become a threath to public health (like in the case of Olena Popik).
From the aspect of SBA, the focus of their interest is on the victims, but not on their „clients/buyers“. She also stressed that BiH is in a specific position as copmared to countries of origin of trafficked girls. BiH was a country of a high risk, but with development of SBA the problem decreased. Recently the so called internal THB has increased, which means that more and more BiH citizens are trafficked within the borders of BiH. This kind of THB is extremely difficult to spot, since the trafficked persons do not raise suspicion of police, being BiH citizens with regular documents. One of the newest trends is that THB takes place in private flats/houses, far away from the „eyes“ of public, which furtherly complicates assistance to trafficking victims.
The aim of La Strada BiH is not to teach SBA how to do their wotk and fulfil their tasks, but to help them free themselves from prejudice towards trafficking victims. After the presentation, representatives of La Strada BiH conducted two exercises, aiming at team work improvement in resolution of THB cases.