World Day Against Human Trafficking marked at Belgrade Airport

On the occasion of World Day Against Human Trafficking, Belgrade Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network and the Ministry of Internal Affairs organized a joint event today at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport with the aim of marking this date, raising awareness of the importance of the combat against human trafficking, promoting the joint efforts of institutions and business entities, as well as highlighting the importance of recognizing and preventing this global problem.

Veljko Odalović, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, stated: "The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia remains firmly committed to combating human trafficking in a decisive and coordinated manner, through effective police work, strengthening of international cooperation, detection and prosecution of perpetrators, as well as through comprehensive protection and support for victims. An important step in this direction is the adoption of the Law on Prevention and Combat against Human Trafficking and Victim Protection, which will apply from January 1, 2027. This law further strengthens normative framework of the Republic of Serbia, the coordination of competent institutions has been improved and conditions have been created for more effective prevention and timely recognition of potential victims.

The partnership with Belgrade Airport is particularly important, because airports, as places that daily connect a large number of people, countries and continents, can also be transit points that criminal groups try to abuse. That is why joint trainings for employees to recognize indicators of human trafficking, as well as informative materials intended for travelers, are an important part of our joint activities. Only by connecting state institutions, the economy, and international partners and civil society, we can contribute to ensuring that the victims are recognized in time, that they receive adequate support, and that the perpetrators are brought to justice."
 

Chivoine Rem, Belgrade Airport CEO stated: “We have gathered to mark the World Day Against Human Trafficking, and to present the concrete activities that demonstrate our shared commitment to raising awareness of this global threat.

I deeply believe that this initiative, launched right here at Belgrade Airport, will become a benchmark and an exemplary model of successful synergy between the private sector, state institutions, and civil society organizations.

The fight against human trafficking is not merely a challenge; it is a shared responsibility for all of us. Only through robust cooperation, continuous education, and unwavering vigilance can we truly contribute to the protection of the most vulnerable and to the building of a safer and more just society for all.”

Nenad Simić, National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, stated "The cooperation established on the occasion of the World Day against Human Trafficking, which we are implementing with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Belgrade Airport company, is an example of good practice and shows how much the partnership of the public and private sectors can contribute to the early recognition of potential victims, raising the awareness of employees and strengthening preventive mechanisms.

We owe special thanks to the management and employees of the Nikola Tesla Airport, who actively participated in the training program for recognizing and dealing adequately with potential cases of human trafficking. Three of the five trainings planned for 2026, have already been successfully implemented. Promotional materials have also been prepared that will be distributed and broadcast on airport screens, in order to further raise the awareness of both passengers and employees. I am convinced that this cooperation model can be recognized and applied at other airports in Europe and the world.

The results we have achieved so far within the Action Plan of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the period from 2024 to 2026 are also significant in regional context, and by working together with partners, we will continue to build an even stronger system of human rights protection, citizen security and international cooperation, in the interest of all those who need our support and help the most."

After the event, the delegation visited the terminal in order to get acquainted with the joint activities that Belgrade Airport and the Ministry of Internal Affairs implemented during the previous period including promotional and informative materials intended for passengers and the general public with the aim of identifying potential victims of human trafficking and providing information on available support channels.

As part of this cooperation, trainings for employees at the airport were organized, while the special value of this project is the fact that the trainings were intended not only for employees of Belgrade Airport, but also for all members of the airport community who come into contact with passengers every day. The event was also attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations active in the field of combating human trafficking, as well as partner organizations of civil society.