The Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) and the implementing partner, Syri i Vizioni (SiV), organized a round table on the topic: “EU Demands for Kosovo: The Fight Against Human Trafficking” to present findings and discussion about this issue.
This was the third table organized within the project “Meeting EU requirements for good governance, for the further European Integration of Kosovo”, a project which was financed by the Office of the European Union in Pristina.
Representatives from the key institutions of the rule of law in Kosovo from the central and local level took part in this roundtable, such as: the Office of the European Union in Kosovo, the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor – Office for the Protection and Assistance of Victims, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Police of Kosovo, Border Police, Basic Court (Gjakovë), Basic Prosecutor’s Office (Gjakovë) and Center for Social Work (Peja).
Initially, the initial findings of the project were presented by KIPRED and SiV, to continue further with the discussions of the actors present at the table. The table was opened by the project official from the NGO “Syri i Vizionit” in Pejë, Vlora Gaxherri, who presented general information about the project to the participants.
Ms. Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa, manager of this project and at the same time a senior researcher at KIPRED, presented the methodology of the research work, the findings so far and the recommendations in the field of human trafficking.
“Even though the legal framework against human trafficking is sufficient, and is being considered as a model from Albania, there are still challenges in the implementation of the respective laws. Also, it is necessary, stable financing for the compensation of the victims and for the shelters” – said Mrs. Ariana Qosaj-Mustafa.
Participants at the roundtable discussed the findings of KIPRED and SiV and expressed their opinions regarding the most effective solutions to the issue of human trafficking, including the problem of child begging. The discussions were focused on the fulfillment of EU requirements by Kosovo institutions, in order to facilitate Kosovo’s journey towards the EU and to overcome the above-mentioned problems.