HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: IS THERE A NEED FOR A REGIONAL RESPONSE?

Abstract

Trafficking in human beings is one of the most persistent forms of crime, as well as one of the most strongly damaging to the entirety of human rights. It, by nature, often involves the crossing of borders and, as such, immediately becomes at least a bilateral problem. The Western Balkans region has recognized the existence of human trafficking mostly from the late 1990s onwards as a direct result of the conflicts, wars and insurgencies in the six countries. In addition, trafficking in the region has been connected to loosely organized criminal groups which work across the borders within and outside the region. While the countries are recognized to have made significant progress in the fight against the trafficking of human beings, much remains to be done in order to achieve the complete eradication of the phenomenon. This paper raises and seeks to answer the question of whether a regional response is the appropriate way to successfully fight the crime.