Trafficking with people for prostitution, seek charity in Kosovo

Kosovo Police spokesman Daut Hoxha told Radio Free Europe that in this year's ninth quarter, the Directorate for Trafficking in Human Beings has filed criminal speculation at relevant prosecutors for 16 cases of human trafficking.

“concerned with the same time period, notes a slight decline in human trafficking cases. The number of persons arrested for trafficking with human beings is 31, while the number of officially identified victims is 22. One of the most frequent or the most pronounced forms of the use of trafficking victims is that of sexual exploitation, and in some cases even research and forced labour” revealed Hoxha.

On the other hand, spokesman Hoxha also said that the most affected trafficking-related category are young women, including when victims are children.

Trafficking in people considered a criminal phenomenon linked to trans-border organised crime has prompted law authorities to sign numerous agreements with the countries of the region and beyond.

Kosovo police, in this regard, have signed 74 bilateral agreements in commitment to preventing this phenomenon. Similarly, Kosovo Police, under strategic assessments, risks and threats from organised crime and serious crimes, have listed the human trafficking phenomenon as one of the main threats.

According to estimates by security authority, the main factors that promote trafficking are the socioeconomic situation, lack of parental and family care, in particular to children, as well as abandoning schooling.

On the occasion of the European Day's signing of Human Being Trafficking and the launch of the campaign Against Trafficking in Human Being organised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, prosecutor Besim Kelmendi said Kosovo prosecutors have strongly hit criminal trafficking groups.

The State Prosecutor's Institute during the first quarter of this year has resolved 25 cases, with 72 persons. The Office for Protection of Victims has provided support and assistance to all cases of human trafficking, including victims of this phenomenon, including 437 cases of domestic violence. The State Prosecutor has achieved good regional and international co-operation with regard to human trafficking, and we are part of drafting indicators for the prevention and fighting of human trafficking, as well as standard action procedures related to this”, Kelmendi stressed.

Prosecutor Kelmendi, however, said the State Prosecutor is not satisfied with penal policy, and added that the separate challenge continues to be the punishment of officials involved in cases of trafficking.

“The other challenge for the State Prosecutor is the prosecution and punishment of officials involved in the cases of human trafficking, because officials must be the best example for preventing and fighting human trafficking, not part of this crime”, Kelmendi said.

On the other hand, organisation director “Children-Kosovo's hopes and homes”, Valbona Citaku, told Radio and Free Europe that Kosovo institutions should do more to prevent this phenomenon.

There should be more work on the prevention area because it's easier to work on prevention than on long-term defence and reintegration, which is a very long and costly process. Also, it is very important to have stable services, as nongovernmental organisations depend on donors”, Citaku said.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has declared that Kosovo must work harder to prevent and combat human trafficking. According to him, the perpetrators should be identified and punished.

“As far as Kosovo is concerned, preventing this kind of specific crime must happen with all the legal means that envisions legislation in force”, Haradinaj said on the European Day Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

In contrast, the US State Department in the annual report on human trafficking that was published in June had said the Government of Kosovo did not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, but is making significant efforts in this regard.

The report stresses that the Government of Kosovo, compared to the previous reporting period, has identified more victims and followed and condemned more traffickers.