DASH: Kosovo has intensified efforts to combat human trafficking

The United States ranked Kosovo at Level 2 in its latest report on Trafficking in Human Beings.

This category includes countries where governments make significant efforts to combat human trafficking, but still fail to fully meet minimum international standards.

The other Western Balkan countries are also listed in the same category: Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia.

The report, published on September 29 by the US Department of State, highlights that Kosovo has intensified efforts to combat trafficking compared to last year, including prosecuting a larger number of people suspected of trafficking and identifying many victims.

Funding for victim support and compensation funds has also been increased. However, the Government has not met minimum standards in key areas, and Kosovo remains in Level 2, as in the previous report. Key shortcomings include: the low level of conviction of traffickers and the imposition of sentences below the minimum required by law.

The report also highlights that cases of children forced by parents to beg on the streets are often treated as neglect or abuse, rather than trafficking, raising concerns about the incorrect identification of victims.

"The government has lacked the capacity to provide long-term assistance and has allocated fewer funds for awareness campaigns," the report states.

Who is most vulnerable to trafficking?
Trafficking affects all communities in Kosovo, according to a US State Department report.

Women and girls are recruited with false promises of marriage or work as singers and dancers, but are then sexually trafficked into private homes, nightclubs, or massage parlors.

The victims include not only Kosovars, but also women from Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and other European countries.

Kosovars are also often forced into sex and other work in Europe.

On the other hand, children from Kosovo, Albania, and neighboring countries are often exploited for forced begging.

Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities are particularly at risk, as are LGBTQ+ people, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

The US State Department report recalls that the law in Kosovo penalizes trafficking for sexual and labor purposes with sentences of up to 15 years in prison, but emphasizes that its implementation has been deficient.

Last year, authorities prosecuted 17 new cases involving 49 suspected traffickers, compared to eight cases in 2023, involving 10 suspected traffickers.

Authorities continued to prosecute six more cases involving 14 suspected traffickers, initiated in previous years.

But the courts convicted only one sex trafficker – a significant drop compared to 14 traffickers convicted in 2023, the report notes.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison, which was below the minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Sentences below this minimum undermine efforts to hold traffickers accountable and do not reflect the seriousness of the crime, the report says.

But, alongside the shortcomings, the document also highlights improvements in victim protection.

During the past year, 14 victims were identified, compared to 17 victims in 2023, and most of them received legal, medical and psychological assistance, counseling, education and reintegration support.

The government, according to the report, has increased funding for these services, allocating 150,000 euros for the safety center for vulnerable victims, compared to 75,000 euros allocated in 2023.

Also, the victim compensation fund was increased to 200,000 euros last year, compared to 150,000 euros in 2023.

For the coming period, the report emphasizes that Kosovo must significantly strengthen its anti-trafficking efforts.

Among the main recommendations are the investigation and prosecution of traffickers and the imposition of severe penalties.

The report also suggests advanced training for judges, prosecutors and police on identifying trafficking and appropriately approaching victims.

Capacity and funding for social centers and shelters of non-governmental organizations are recommended to be increased, as is support for professional training and integration of victims./REL