NOMCENTAR NGO

Legal aid and protection for trafficking victims in Serbia

Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights that can involve forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced begging, criminal exploitation, or other forms of coercion. Victims may be Serbian citizens, foreign nationals, children, or people whose legal status has been used to control them.

Access to a lawyer can help a person understand available protection, communicate safely with institutions, recover documents, and seek compensation. Legal support should be adapted to the victim’s safety, health, age, language, and immigration situation rather than treating the case as an ordinary legal dispute.

NOMCENTAR NGO, also known as Udruženje Nomotehnički Centar, supports access to justice through free legal aid, legal education, and civic advocacy. Its work can help victims and community organizations understand procedures and identify appropriate institutions in Serbia.

Recognizing trafficking and immediate risks

Trafficking does not require a person to be transported across a border. It may occur within Serbia, including when an employer, partner, recruiter, family member, or criminal group uses threats, violence, deception, debt, confiscated documents, or abuse of vulnerability to obtain labour or services.

A person may be unable to leave because of surveillance, lack of money, fear of retaliation, dependence on accommodation, or concern for relatives. Previous consent to travel, accept a job, or enter a relationship does not remove the possibility of exploitation when coercive means are later used.

Immediate danger should be reported to the police by calling 192 or the European emergency number 112. If contacting authorities could increase risk, a trusted support organization can help plan a safer approach. Victims should avoid confronting traffickers, deleting evidence, or returning alone to collect belongings.

Medical care is also important, especially after violence, sexual exploitation, dangerous working conditions, or deprivation of food and sleep. Where possible, records of injuries, messages, contracts, payment records, travel details, and witness information should be preserved securely, without putting the victim at greater risk.

How the protection system can help

The Center for Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings plays a central role in identifying victims and coordinating protection. Social welfare institutions, police, prosecutors, health services, shelters, and specialized civil society organizations may all be involved. A victim should receive information in a language and form they can understand.

Legal representation can cover contact with police and prosecutors, participation in interviews, protection of privacy, requests for protective measures, and assistance with compensation claims. A lawyer can also explain whether the person is being treated as a witness, injured party, or victim within relevant proceedings.

Free legal aid in Serbia is available through procedures established by the Law on Free Legal Aid. Municipal and city authorities decide eligibility, while authorized lawyers and organizations may provide assistance. Non-governmental organizations can often offer initial guidance even when formal representation must be arranged through an authorized provider.

Support should be trauma-informed. Repeatedly recounting events, facing the suspected trafficker without protection, or receiving documents full of unexplained legal terminology can deepen distress. A representative should explain each stage, identify deadlines, and help the victim make informed decisions.

Immigration, documents, and safe accommodation

Foreign nationals who are identified as possible trafficking victims may need assistance with identity documents, communication with the police, and lawful residence. Their immigration position should be reviewed separately from the criminal case because fear of deportation can prevent a person from seeking help. Information about a temporary residence permit can help clarify the administrative process in Serbia.

Victims may be entitled to accommodation, food, medical assistance, psychological support, interpretation, and safety planning through available referral mechanisms. Children require special safeguards, including appointment of a guardian and procedures based on their best interests. A child should never be treated as responsible for exploitation or pressured to mediate with the alleged trafficker.

The victim’s passport, identification card, work permit, phone, or residence documents may have been withheld. Legal aid can support requests for replacement documents, communication with consular services where appropriate, and action against unlawful retention. Copies should be stored with a trusted person or organization if keeping them personally is unsafe.

Confidentiality matters throughout the process. Public disclosure of names, photographs, accommodation locations, or personal histories can expose victims to retaliation and stigma. Before sharing information, support workers should explain who will receive it, why it is needed, and whether consent is required.

Legal need Possible route What support may include
Immediate safety Police, emergency services, shelter, social welfare institution Safety planning, urgent protection, transport, medical referral
Victim identification Center for Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings Assessment, referral, protection planning, coordination
Criminal proceedings Police and public prosecutor Legal representation, witness protection requests, evidence
Immigration status Ministry of Interior and competent police administration Residence applications, documents, interpretation
Unpaid labour or damages Labour inspection, criminal or civil proceedings Wage claims, compensation requests, evidence collection
Recovery and reintegration Social services and specialized organizations Housing, healthcare, counselling, education, employment support

Compensation, wages, and evidence

Victims may seek compensation for physical and psychological harm, lost income, unpaid wages, medical expenses, and other losses. A claim may be connected to criminal proceedings or brought through civil litigation, depending on the facts and available evidence. A lawyer should explain deadlines, risks, costs, and the likely relationship between the criminal case and a separate civil claim.

Traffickers and exploitative employers may use false contracts, informal arrangements, debt, or threats to conceal the employment relationship. Messages about working hours, photographs of the workplace, bank statements, payment promises, transport records, and statements from co-workers can help establish what happened.

For information about employment protections, including situations where an employer withholds earned income, victims can review guidance on unpaid wages. Labour rights and trafficking protections can overlap, but a wage complaint should not replace a broader assessment of coercion, confinement, threats, or exploitation.

A compensation claim should never be pursued in a way that compromises safety. Contact with an employer or recruiter should be handled through a lawyer, inspector, police officer, or another trained professional when there is a risk of intimidation. Documents should be translated before signing, and victims should receive copies of anything submitted in their name.

Working with organizations and public institutions

Community organizations can help identify warning signs, refer people to specialized services, and provide practical support after a person leaves exploitation. They may also conduct legal education, help prepare questions for an appointment, and explain how institutions in Serbia divide responsibility.

An organization supporting victims should have clear confidentiality rules, referral contacts, and procedures for emergencies. If it manages accommodation, donations, or a recovery project, lawful registration and responsible governance are essential. Guidance on how to register a nonprofit can assist groups that want to build a compliant structure for community work.

Public institutions remain responsible for investigating crimes and providing statutory protection. Civil society organizations do not replace the police, prosecutor, courts, social welfare system, or healthcare providers. Their role is often to make those systems more accessible, reduce barriers, and help victims participate safely.

Effective advocacy also requires listening to survivors. Policies should address language access, disability, homelessness, discrimination, children’s protection, and the specific risks faced by migrant workers. Public panels and legal education can improve awareness without exposing individual victims or revealing confidential case details.

Practical steps for seeking legal help

The first legal meeting should focus on safety and urgent needs, not on demanding a complete account immediately. The victim can ask for an interpreter, request a support person where permitted, and explain any disability, health condition, fear, or communication difficulty that affects participation.

Useful preparation may include a safe telephone number, copies of identity documents, dates and locations, names of recruiters or employers, payment information, medical records, and details of witnesses. These materials should be collected only when doing so does not create danger.

A trusted lawyer or organization can help with:

Victims should not be blamed for entering an exploitative situation, lacking documents, or delaying a report. Fear, dependency, trauma, and manipulation commonly affect how and when a person can seek help. Legal professionals should respect the person’s pace while clearly explaining any urgent deadlines.

NOMCENTAR NGO can serve as an accessible starting point for legal information and referrals in Serbia. Individuals, relatives, professionals, and community groups can contact the organization to discuss available options and identify the appropriate next institution. Seeking advice early can protect evidence, reduce confusion, and connect a victim with safer support.