How can we improve international cooperation in combating human trafficking? What solutions can we adopt to make the fight against trafficking more effective?
ASIT has developed an innovative model for exchanging best practices among law enforcement agencies from Slovakia, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and Poland. Through field meetings and strategy sharing, partners explored innovative tools, institutionalized protocols, and effective collaborations with NGOs and local authorities. This approach allowed to observe and understand how to deal with different cases of trafficking, tailoring interventions to the specifics of the country, population and type of trafficking identified.
Exchanges already conducted in Slovakia, Spain, Poland and Greece have fostered constructive dialogue on multiple aspects of anti-trafficking. These meetings have highlighted both the use of innovative tools for identifying crimes and the different national responses to support victims. In Spain, for example, the Catalan government’s Department of the Interior has implemented institutionalized protocols, while in Slovakia, specialized support sections have been created within the police force. In both cases, collaboration with local authorities and NGOs has been essential to ensure effective support for victims.
The exchange in Slovakia, held in Bratislava, emphasized the importance of collaboration between social welfare networks and the police to address trafficking and provide support to victims, through presentations and visits to Ministry of Interior offices.
The exchange in Spain, at the Policía de la Generalitat-Mossos d’Esquadra headquarters in Barcelona, explored strategies and challenges in the fight against human trafficking. During the day, participants visited the Central Unit for Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Sabadell, where the following aspects were presented:
- Actual investigations into human trafficking, which highlighted the complexity of the phenomenon.
- The collaboration between the specialized teams and the Department of Equal Opportunities, with special attention to the victims’ point of view.
The exchange with Poland, held at the regional police headquarters in Krakow, brought partners together to discuss strategies for collaboration against human trafficking. Key presentations included:
- The importance of international cooperation, highlighted by the National Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department.
- The investigative experience of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the crucial role of NGOs such as La Strada in supporting victims.
- Prevention measures and statistics shared by the Malopolska Regional Office.
In the exchange with Greece, the Center for Security Studies (KEMEA) and the Hellenic Police organized the event in Athens, highlighting:
- Collaboration between state, non-state, national and international actors to address complex cases of trafficking.
- The progress made by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum in improving assistance to victims.
- The value of unified approaches emphasized by the A21 organization.
Two key exchanges are planned in the coming months:
- Palermo: CESIE ETS, the only Third sector organisation in the partnership, will offer its expertise to contribute to the understanding of the cultural and background diversity of victims. The ethnographic approach taken aims to promote a “victim-centered approach,” ensuring targeted and inclusive interventions.
- Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Interior Ministry Academy will host the final exchange, during which the national anti-trafficking approach will be analyzed. This meeting will culminate in a final European conference, outlining project results, partner engagement and achievements.
ASIT continues to demonstrate how international cooperation and innovation can strengthen the fight against human trafficking, promoting safer communities across Europe. Follow us on Linkedin to stay updated with all the news!
About the project
ASIT – Adequate Support measures and Improved capacities in countering THB is a project funded by the European Union through the Internal Security Fund which aims to address gaps, identify sources and analyze mechanisms of human trafficking, focusing on networks, potential victim profiles and the use of innovative digital tools.
Partners
- MoISR – Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic (Coordinator, Slovak Republic)
- AMoIBG – Academy of the Ministry of Interior Bulgaria (Bulgaria)
- INT – Departament d’Interior – Generalitat de Catalunya (Spain)
- HP – Hellenic Police (Greece)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- KEMEA – Center for Security Studies (Greece)
- KWP Kraków – Regional Police Headquarters in Kraków (Poland)
For further information
Read more about the project and follow us on Linkedin.
Contact Cinzia Broccolo: cinzia.broccolo@cesie.org.
