Recognizing potential victims of human trafficking among migrants in the Republic of North Macedonia

Ivanova, Elena (2022) Recognizing potential victims of human trafficking among migrants in the Republic of North Macedonia. In: conference at the University of Salerno, Italy, within the third edition of the Jean Monnet module on cooperation between the European Union and the Western Balkans in the field of justice and home affairs (EUWEB), 31 March-1 April 2022, Salerno University, Italy. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Mixed migratory flows always carry with them serious risks of victimization of a particular target group trying to reach a particular country. The path migrants take may be the same, but the very predispositions and reasons for migrating make certain migrants particularly vulnerable than others. In situations of mixed migration flows, migrants themselves reach for intermediaries who could help them move to the desired country. This makes them easily accessible to organized crime structures that commit transnational crimes from which they make large profits. Migrants in transit are particularly vulnerable to smuggling because of their consent to commit this offense. However, very often this will and consent is lost along the way, because smuggling grows into human trafficking, and migrants are often exploited. Тhe migration and refugee crisis that occur along Europe, and those that are happening at the moment, because of the situations in Afghanistan and also Ukraine, creates a perfect market for the exploitation of migrants within transit and destination countries by unscrupulous criminal syndicates and lone perpetrators too. The line between smuggling and trafficking of migrants often becomes blurred, as large displacement fuels both illegal migration and bondage to criminal enterprises. Forced on the move, people are exposed to ransom, kidnapping, sexual exploitation or are trafficked for forced labour during their life-threatening journeys. Such vulnerabilities are not appropriately recognized by the frontliners and country stakeholders, because, from one hand, time does not permits this, or, from the other, because the appropriate tools are not developed, are not widely harmonized or, in some instances, are simply not applied.
The Republic of North Macedonia is a transit zone for both migration and transnational organized crime. Over the years, a number of omissions have been made in terms of adequate recognition of potential victims or victims of trafficking. The acts either pass as migrant smuggling or are not registered at all. The country developed some standards and guidelines on anti-trafficking measures in humanitarian crises and did some trainings on frontline responders and humanitarian actors. However, the practice shows us no results in proper and on time detection. So, better screening at entry points must be achieved. Due to the reluctance of victims to come forward, identification cannot be reactive, but proactive. Legal distinctions between trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants must not be conflated. Adequate time and tools are vital to identify vulnerabilities and special needs, including regarding those wishing to remain invisible or undeclared.
Therefore, in the lecture, we will address the similarities between these two crimes that make it difficult to properly recognition and identification on possible victims on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia and will review the positive rules and regulations, as well as practical efforts in this direction with a dose of criticism for better future results.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Subjects:	Social Sciences > Law
Divisions:	Faculty of Law
Depositing User:	Elena Maksimova
Date Deposited:	21 Jun 2022 08:22
Last Modified:	21 Jun 2022 08:22
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/29863

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