Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe - Iom

Trafficking in Human Beingsin Southeastern EuropeFederal Republicof YugoslaviaFederalRepublic ofYugoslaviaThe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) comprises the Republic of Serbia andthe Republic of Montenegro. Following the 1999 NATO intervention and UNSecurity Council Resolution 1277, UN administers the province of Kosovowithin the Republic of Serbia. The following sections cover the Republic of Serbia(excluding Kosovo), the Republic of Montenegro and the UN AdministeredProvince of Kosovo separately, as the situation and responses to trafficking inhuman beings has developed differently in each location.Yugoslavia under communism enjoyed a higher standard of living, greaterfreedom of movement and benefits for its citizens than the other communistcountries in central, eastern and southeastern Europe. Following the fall ofcommunism, FRY therefore became an attractive destination for women seekingemployment from other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, mostly fromRussia, Ukraine and Romania.The conflicts of the past ten years coupled with political and economic transitionhave created a context in which organised crime, including the traffickingof human beings, has flourished. Sanctions and the isolation of FRY by theinternational community have resulted in increasing and widespread povertythroughout the country. The NATO bombing campaign of 1999 further destabilisedthe economy and the destruction of major infrastructure and industryresulted in further job losses. Although political changes after 5 October 2000resulted in the lifting of economic sanctions, FRY is still one of the poorestcountries in Europe.The pattern is the same as in other parts of the region, whereby most womenand girls initially come voluntarily to work as dancers or waitresses in bars andcafes, but are then forced to work as prostitutes and are sold on and/or traffickedto other countries. A smaller group of women does come voluntarily towork in the sex industry but these women are then trafficked against their will.With the worsening economic situation in FRY, the situation of young womenis also changing, putting them at risk of being trafficked. Until now, FRY wasa transit and a destination country, but now it has also become a country oforigin.77