PROJECT TITLE: Civil Society Organizations as a Control Mechanism in the Actions against Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans
COUNTRIES: FYROM, Kosovo, Serbia, Albania
OVERALL OBJECTIVE: To strengthen civil society organizations’ (CSOs) capacities and participation in the decision-making process in the field of human trafficking and victims’ protection at national and regional levels according to the European values, the acquis communataire and best practices.
In particular, the projects aimed at:
- Strengthening CSOs capacity in data collection and analysis, and in drafting reports including recommendations for the alignment of the national legal framework with the EU acquis and OSCE standards;
- Increasing CSOs knowledge on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and supporting their role and participation in its implementation, in order to improve the functioning of NRM in the Western Balkans;
- Promoting transparency and good governance in the actions against THB through the creation of a CSOs permanent Regional Monitoring Structure;
- Strengthening the cooperation among CSOs in the Balkans and with their EU counterparts, as well as the dialogue among CSOs and all relevant stakeholders, included the governmental institutions.
ACTIVITIES:
The project included the following components:
- Component 1: Gaps and needs analysis of the existing legal framework and practices of the NRM in the target countries and drafting of recommendations
- Component 2: Pilot project. Ensuring NRM monitoring and good implementation through the creation of an External Monitoring Tool and the publication of an Annual Shadow Report
- Component 3: Establishing a CSOs permanent Regional Monitoring Structure for the assessment of the effectiveness and transparency of the NRM and creation of a platform for dialogues among CSOs authorities and all stakeholders
FUNDING AGENCY: European Commission
LEADER: Center for Civic Initiative, FYROM
PARTNERS: EPLO, ATINA of Serbia, the Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Trauma and Torture and the Center for Human Rights of Albania
TIME FRAME: 2009–2011