Role of information technology in human trafficking focus of training course supported by OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

On the occasion of the European Union’s Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October 2017, a two-day training course concluded on 19 October for over 20 judges and prosecutors on the role and use of information technology in trafficking in human beings. The course, held in Konjic, was organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Centres for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training in the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

“In today’s globalized world information technologies are becoming tools used for the recruitment, control and exploitation of victims and as a channel for transactions between traffickers. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for members of the judiciary to be familiar with IT-facilitated human trafficking in order to better respond to this scourge of the modern world,” said Deputy Head of the OSCE’s Human Dimension Department Jasna Dobricik.

The ICMPD, through its project Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings and Organized Crime, conducted an assessment of BiH’s national referral mechanism. “One of our key observations is a lack of understanding among various actors of the different elements in trafficking in human beings. This results in a low degree of victim identification and support,” said Lejla Kablar Sarajlic of ICMPD.

Sadika Fatic, the Public Prosecutor in Brcko District and a member of the country’s Strike Force on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, emphasized the importance of these kinds of specialized training courses. “I hope everyone in the professional community will expand their knowledge on this subject so we are able to better recognize the elements and indicators of human trafficking and tackle this complex criminal act more successfully. The training course is especially important for the judges who, through their rulings, create the case law relating to the fight against human trafficking.”  

The training course included an overview of the international legal provisions of trafficking in human beings and the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights, which is of particular importance to BiH as the rights and freedoms set forth in the European Convention on Human Rights take precedence over all other law in BiH.