During October alone, more than 1.000 migrants were recorded in Montenegro, who are mostly in transit to reach the border with BiH and Croatia, announced the head of the office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Dušica Živković.
At the parliamentary session for human rights and freedoms, she said that previously it was the case that around 500-600 migrants were recorded in Montenegro per month, but that towards the end of this year there was a significant increase.
"For migrants, Montenegro is only a transit zone. Data show that they stay in Montenegro for a short time, only for a few days, only as long as they need to find a way to continue their journey to other European countries," said Živković.
The head of the operational team for the fight against human trafficking, Vesna Jovićević, emphasized that the team, which has eight members, achieved good results.
"We had 11 cases. During this year, a final decision was made in the case of human trafficking, where two people were sentenced to 15 and 17 years in prison. Two proceedings are ongoing before the High Court in Podgorica, and we also have two cases under investigation in To the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica," stated Jovićević, who believes that the professionalization of this team would lead to even better results and investigations in the field of human trafficking.
The Chief of Criminal Investigations of the Police Administration, Enis Baković, stated that from the beginning of the year until October 1, 60 people were prosecuted for illegal crossing of the border, people smuggling, and that this rate increased by 46 percent compared to the same period in 2018.
"This is a clear indicator of the work of the Police Administration. We in UP made an analysis, where we noted some progress but also saw weaknesses. In the police, we brought a plan for further concrete results," emphasized Baković.
At the session yesterday, it was heard that the fact that there has been no specialized shelter for victims of human trafficking in Montenegro for more than a year is a particular problem.
In the report and recommendations of the UN special rapporteur for the fight against human trafficking, Maria Gracija Đamarinaro, it is stated that the shelter, which has been operating since 2006, was closed because the NGO that worked there did not meet the criteria for obtaining a license.
The executive director of the Montenegrin Women's Lobby, Aida Petrović, emphasized that it is not true that they did not meet the criteria, but that the state decided to close the shelter for victims of human trafficking, which had been operating for more than 12 years.
Giamarinaro also stated that she "strongly recommends the establishment of a more efficient and permanent system of support for victims of human trafficking", demanding that it be financed exclusively by the state.
Goran Kuševija, representing the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, clarified that there are four shelters for victims of violence in Montenegro and they are operating, which have the necessary licenses to work, but that there are no more shelters for victims of human trafficking.
Director General of the Directorate for Justice in the Ministry of Justice, Marijana Laković Drašković, emphasized that they are currently working on a model to re-open a shelter only for victims of human trafficking.
She emphasized that the legal texts, which follow this issue, were assessed as good in the EU report.
The UN rapporteur on the fight against human trafficking emphasized in the progress report that Montenegro has developed innovative regulations, which could give it the opportunity to take a leading role in the region.
"However, such innovative measures need to be implemented, and in the end it will be a real challenge. I call on the authorities to establish an effective system of support for victims and potential victims, in cooperation with experienced non-governmental organizations, including the determination of appropriate funding," Giamarinaro stated in the report.
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