These legal provisions are also aligned with European directives.
The Bill primarily establishes a National Institutional Mechanism for the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and the Protection of Victims, defines preventive activities aimed at combating this form of trafficking, as well as the rights of victims, procedures for victim identification and other related matters.
The principle of the “social path” is prescribed, meaning that the process of identification and assistance for victims of human trafficking includes the granting of victim status for the purpose of long-term support, and this procedure will be carried out by the relevant social protection authorities and associations.
Police officers, public prosecutors and judges will acquire specialised knowledge for performing these tasks, while the competences and responsibilities of the Centre for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking, as a social protection institution, are also defined.
The legal provisions establish the principles of non-discrimination, urgency and the best interests of the victim.
In order to achieve the objective of this law – improving the coordination of national and international activities in this field – the Government of Serbia will utilise its mechanisms, including linking the Council for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings with the National Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. The Council will also consider international recommendations.