Support victims of human trafficking in Serbia

Sometimes, life-changing interventions begin in the most ordinary places.

This summer, on a busy beach along the Albanian coast, Ana—a Serbian tourist traveling with her young daughter—noticed something that didn’t fit the carefree holiday atmosphere. Among sun umbrellas and vacationing families, she observed Bea, a woman working at their accommodation. Bea was polite and hardworking, but visibly exhausted. Her posture, her silence, and short, careful answers raised quiet alarms.

Over the course of a few days of casual conversation, a troubling reality emerged. Bea spoke of extremely long working hours, little or no pay, no days off, and constant fear of her employers. Most alarming of all, her passport had been taken away. She had no freedom of movement, no access to institutions, and no idea how to seek help.

For Ana, these were not complaints—they were warning signs of exploitation. Refusing to look away, she listened, believed Bea, and acted. As soon as she returned to Serbia, Ana contacted ASTRA, sharing everything she had learned. That single decision—to take responsibility instead of staying silent—set an international rescue effort in motion.

Acting Across Borders

With Bea’s consent and contact details, ASTRA began reaching out carefully. Communication was slow and cautious, conducted through short messages whenever Bea was able to respond. She was afraid, often monitored, and unsure whom to trust. But she confirmed the key facts: she had no documents, no security, and no way out.

ASTRA knew that effective help required local action. With Bea’s permission, they activated their regional partner network and contacted an organization in Albania specialized in supporting victims of violence and labor exploitation.

A 24-Hour Response That Changed Everything

Once local NGO received the referral, their team acted immediately. Locating Bea was challenging: her employers frequently moved her between locations, her phone access was restricted, and communication was unstable. Still, both organizations remained in constant contact, coordinating day and night.

Within 24 hours, Bea was safely placed to their emergency shelter.

For the first time in months, Bea could sleep without fear. She had a secure place to stay, food, medical and psychosocial support, and—most importantly—someone who listened and believed her.

Protection, Rights, and a Way Forward

After being placed in safety, local NGO conducted a full assessment and identified Bea as a potential victim of human trafficking, with clear indicators of labor exploitation. The case was reported to the Albanian Ministry of Interior, and protection measures were initiated.

In the following days, Bea received psychosocial support, counseling, and clear information about her rights. As she expressed a wish to work in Serbia—where she has family and a support network—an online coordination meeting with ASTRA was organized to develop an individual support plan jointly.

During this cross-border case conference, the two organizations assessed risks and legal pathways to ensure Bea’s safety, legal status, and access to lawful employment in Serbia. With coordinated support in place, Bea was able to make an informed decision about her future and move forward toward safe relocation and legal work.

Over the past decade, Serbia has become a new destination for thousands of foreign workers. In 2012, there were just over 4,000 immigrants in the country. By 2023, that number had risen almost tenfold, reaching more than 41,000 people — the highest number ever recorded. Most come from Russia, China, Turkey, and India, often with the hope of building a better life for themselves and their families.

But behind these numbers lie untold stories of exploitation, fear, and survival. Official statistics are missing critical details: What jobs do these workers perform? How long do they stay? What are their living and working conditions? These gaps make it harder to protect people. At ASTRA, through direct support to workers, we have seen the reality — and it is far from safe.

Different risks for men and women

Exploitation does not look the same for everyone. For men, it often means withheld salaries, debt to recruitment agencies, unsafe housing, and the constant threat of deportation. Many pay thousands of euros in recruitment fees just to arrive in Serbia. Once here, they face contracts they cannot understand, restricted movement, and abuse from employers.

One worker from Burundi told us, “The agents kept talking about criminal activities. They showed me videos and pictures of other workers being beaten when they tried to leave. They bragged about their connections with the police. I was terrified. I didn’t dare ask for higher pay, better conditions, or legal status in Serbia.”

For women, exploitation carries an additional, gendered dimension. Beyond unpaid wages or threats, women often experience sexual harassment and gender-based violence. One woman who arrived with a work visa to perform household chores was forced by her employer to accept humiliating demands, including sexual harassment, out of fear of losing her job and residency status. Another woman, after leaving an exploitative workplace and finding a safer job, was subjected to intimate partner violence. Even after legal protection was granted, her employer insisted that she return to live in the same collective housing as her abuser.

These examples show clearly: women migrant workers face double vulnerability — as workers and as women.

How ASTRA helps

When workers come to us, they are often hungry, exhausted, and frightened. Our team provides urgent assistance:

• food and hygiene products,
• information on their rights in languages they understand,
• legal support and translation of documents,
• help in reporting cases to the authorities,
• field accompaniment to institutions,
• emotional and psychosocial support,
• connection to local communities.

But beyond practical help, we give them something just as vital: the knowledge that they are not alone.

Every number in the statistics hides a human face. A man too afraid to ask for his wages. A woman choosing between her safety and her job. A worker trapped by threats, debts, and fear.

With your support, ASTRA can continue to respond to these realities: to provide safety, dignity, and a way forward for people who came to Serbia in search of opportunity, but instead found exploitation.