More than 95 percent of Montenegrin citizens are not familiar with the indicators by which they can identify potential victims of human trafficking, and they see begging as the most common form of this phenomenon, according to a survey by the Montenegrin Women's Lobby (CŽL), the PR Center announced.
The survey on the perception of human trafficking was carried out by the Archimede agency for the needs of CŽL in October last year on a sample of 1.002 adult respondents in 21 Montenegrin municipalities.
Social worker in CŽL, Vasilisa Danilović, said at the press conference that citizens were asked about the first associations with human trafficking, explaining that they were offered five forms of behavior, and that their task was to choose those that represent a form of human trafficking for them.
"The largest number of respondents, 76,1 percent of them, believe that sexual exploitation is a form of human trafficking. Almost three-quarters of respondents claim the same for the sale of organs, and slightly less than seven-tenths point out that they see begging as a form of human trafficking. Child marriage falls under human trafficking for two-thirds of respondents, while the same is true for 60,4 percent of them in terms of labor exploitation," said Danilović.
When asked to what extent these forms of human trafficking are represented in Montenegro, Danilović pointed out that the largest number of respondents highlighted begging.
"Cumulatively, more than 90 percent of respondents believe that this phenomenon is prevalent in Montenegro, 62 percent that begging is very prevalent, and 30,6 percent that it is somewhat prevalent. Furthermore, 37,2 percent of respondents believe that labor exploitation is very prevalent , while every fifth respondent claims the same regarding sexual exploitation, every seventh regarding arranged child marriages and every tenth when it comes to the sale of organs," said Danilović.
She pointed out that residents of the south more often than others point out that labor exploitation is very prevalent in Montenegro, 43,2 percent of them and arranged child marriages 20,15 percent.
"Inhabitants of the central region prioritize begging 68,5 percent and sexual exploitation 22,3 percent more often than others, while respondents from the north highlight the sale of organs 16 percent more often than residents of other parts of Montenegro," Danilović said.
When asked which of the forms of human trafficking the interviewees consider the worst, Danilović said that almost half of them highlighted trafficking in human organs.
"Sexual exploitation is the worst form for a fifth, while one in seven interlocutors pointed out arranged child marriages," said Danilović.
When asked if they see the difference between prostitution and sexual exploitation, Danilović indicated that a fifth of respondents claim that there is a difference, two thirds believe that they are the same phenomenon, while every seventh respondent was unable to decide.
"Those who claim that there is a difference, we asked what it is. The dominant majority of respondents define the fact that prostitution is very often voluntary, i.e. a matter of choice, as a criterion for separation, while this is not the same as sexual exploitation. Some of the respondents also point out a greater degree organizations when it comes to sexual exploitation," said Danilović.
When asked whether they are familiar with the indicators by which potential victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation can be identified, a negligible number of respondents, only one in twenty, answered yes, or 4,3 percent, while 95,7 percent said no. .
"Respondents were also asked the question: If you were in contact with a person or came to know that it is a possible victim of human trafficking, which of the following would you inform about it first?, as many as 73.9 percent of respondents chose the police, 7.9 percent non-governmental organizations, and 7.4 percent centers for social work," Danilović said.
She pointed out that almost 30 percent of the respondents believe that non-governmental organizations and activists are very involved in the fight against human trafficking, state institutions are in the middle of the table, while at the bottom of the scale are the media, which only every fifth respondent claims to be very involved. in preventing and preventing human trafficking.
"When it comes to the objectivity of the Montenegrin media when it comes to reporting on human trafficking, 37,8 percent of them believe that the media does not report on this topic objectively, while on the other hand, 30,2 percent of them claim the opposite. A very small number of respondents, they 6,5 percent fully agree with the statement that Montenegrin media reporting on the problem of human trafficking is objective," said Danilović.
When asked how human trafficking is regulated in the Montenegrin legal system, almost three quarters of respondents claim that this phenomenon is characterized as a criminal offense and sanctioned by law.
"Every seventh respondent claims that this offense is not regulated by the Criminal Code, while every tenth respondent was unable to make up his or her mind on this issue," said Danilović.
When asked what measures need to be taken in order to suppress sexual exploitation and human trafficking, Danilović said that the largest number of respondents, a fifth of them, claimed that tightening the criminal policy would lead to a decrease in the number of cases of human trafficking.
"That group of respondents also includes 9,5 percent who specified the punishment, considering that a life sentence must be prescribed for these crimes, while 4,4 percent point out that it would be desirable to restore the death penalty for the perpetrators," Danilović said.
The director of CŽL, Aida Petrović, said that within the project "Improving prevention and protection against human trafficking and sexual exploitation" they prepared publications on case studies in order to point out the perception, intensity and forms of violence against victims of human trafficking in Montenegro in order to became familiar with multiple forms of violence and took appropriate measures to suppress and prevent this phenomenon.
"Also, case studies can serve as a significant source of information in the implementation of activities in the field of achieving a sustainable and efficient system of protection for victims of trafficking, undertaking preventive measures, as well as recommendations for improving the protection and support of victims of trafficking," Petrović said.
She pointed out that case studies show that human trafficking includes the largest number of the most vulnerable group of women, girls and girls (around 75 to 80 percent of the population), that any person can be a victim of human trafficking, especially from the category of "vulnerable" categories, that human trafficking happens regardless of ethnic, religious, national commitment, origin, social status, age
"I believe that the research and analysis of cases of victims of trafficking is a quality basis for further detailed analysis of the provision of assistance to victims of human trafficking through the process of recovery, integration and reintegration, and it is possible to use the obtained results to define future policies and measures for the prevention and suppression of human trafficking, especially towards more vulnerable groups female population," stated Petrović.
She said that it is necessary for everyone in the institutional system of prevention, identification, protection, support and realization of human rights to understand the gender dimension of trafficking as well as the gender characteristics of each individual case, bearing in mind that 75 to 80 percent of the victims are women, girls.
"In addition to the fact that the penal policy for human trafficking needs to be tightened, it is also necessary that the existing penal policy be applied adequately without selectivity or any other deviation in finding "facilitating" circumstances for traffickers, so as a result we often have minimal sanctions or the absence of sanctions in the so-called to the "lack" of evidence, Petrović pointed out.
The event was held as part of the project "Improving prevention and protection against human trafficking and sexual exploitation" with the financial support of the German GIZ foundation, which aims to raise the awareness of women, girls and girls, potential victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, about the possible risks of become victims of human trafficking, sexual and labor exploitation, as well as information about available support and assistance mechanisms and services.
Bonus video:
