Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe - Iom

Trafficking in Human Beingsin Southeastern EuropeBosnia andHerzegovina2.3. Prevention and raising awarenessRaising awareness and education are included into the NPA, but the governmentalinstitutions have not yet produced any concrete actions. The Ministriesof the Interior of both entities acknowledge that there is a problem with thetrafficking of women and children and are also willing to co-operate with theinternational organisations on prevention issues.Within the framework of the NPA, the government is going to address the following:• National assessment of policies and legislation which address trafficking;• Prevention campaigns in schools;• HIV/AIDS prevention.The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, in collaboration with UNHCHRand NGOs, has drafted a Gender Equality Law, which is pending parliamentaryapproval at the beginning of 2002.UNMIBH has established codes of conduct for international workers andpeacekeepers, which specifically mention trafficking. UN personnel are forbiddento visit places where prostitution might be taking place.UNMIBH also collects information about all known cases of trafficking, as wellas about the IPTF and STOP Teams actions, and is establishing a database.Copies of the IOM questionnaires, in possession of IPTF and filled in by traffickedwomen taking part in the IOM project, are part of the database. Theinformation is shared with the SECI Centre in Bucharest.UNHCHR’s principle role is to advise on the human rights dimensions of theproblem and to propose appropriate responses on the part of others. UNHCHRis involved in a system-wide effort to provide assistance and protection to traffickedwomen and to strengthen the law enforcement response to the growingproblem of trafficking in the region. In BiH, UNHCHR is involved in advocacyand expert advice to government, international organisations and NGOs andwas instrumental in the preparation of the NPA to combat trafficking. UNHCHRadvocates for implementing international standards into domestic legislationthrough collaboration and facilitation, and has also been active in promoting ahuman rights response to the growing problem of trafficking in and from BiH.UNICEF has undertaken situation assessment and the mapping out ofresponses to trafficking in BiH as part of a sub-regional project. In collaborationwith the local NGO Medica Zenica, UNICEF is supporting local capacitybuilding and training of government authorities at the municipal level toaddress gender-based violence, including trafficking. Within the regionalframework, UNICEF has taken the lead in HIV/AIDS prevention and in collaborationwith partners has undertaken a Rapid Assessment and Response (RAR)on HIV/AIDS and STIs risk and vulnerability in BiH. This will provide the informationfrom which will be developed concrete targeted activities with especiallyvulnerable young people, including sex workers and trafficked womenand girls.70Within the framework of the NPA to combat trafficking, UNICEF’s plannedactivities for the next three years include:• Research and assessment of the extent and nature of child trafficking,including internal trafficking and child sexual exploitation within BiH,to include mapping out and assessing services available for traffickedchildren, and cases of sexual abuse;