UNMIK on AIR
August 22, 2003
Trafficking
in persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Andrea
Saula)
Hello and welcome to UNMIK on AIR with Sputnik Kilambi and
Martin Redi
The US State
Department’s latest report on human trafficking puts Bosnia and Herzegovina in
the so-called third group of countries criticized for failing to take adequate
measures to fight human trafficking. The 15 nations included in this group
could face sanctions if no measures are taken in the upcoming four months. This
is the first time Washington has warned of sanctions if the countries involved
fail to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
The imposition of sanctions could mean an end to any aid except humanitarian,
and range from the withdrawal of educational and cultural grants to sanctions
by international financial institutions.
Bosnia & Herzegovina is described as a destination and transit
country for women and girls trafficked into sexual exploitation, mostly from
Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, and to a lesser extent, Russia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and Serbia and Montenegro. It is also becoming a source. And on two
points, there seems to be unanimous agreement – sexual trafficking has been
increasing since the war and it’s not only limited to Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Sanela Dervisbegovic works with the Institute for War and Peace
Reporting in Sarajevo.
According to the
State Department report, corruption at the local level is the major factor
limiting the effect of positive initiatives taken by the authorities. The
report stresses that anti-trafficking efforts are neither systematic nor
comprehensive, with poor coordination among agencies. Kathryn Bolkovac used to work as an international policewoman
attached to the trafficking unit in Bosnia till the end of 2000. Her efforts to
end the involvement of internationals in this sordid trade led to her being
sacked by Dyncorps, the US firm that employed her, though she subsequently won
a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal.
Kathryn Bolkovac: The corruption within the local government and the police is quite high, so I think that’s something also that needs a more effective and stronger look at prosecuting traffickers and not giving them any kind of meaningful sentence doesn’t do much to end the trafficking so we also have to look at the final end stage, that is people who are using these trafficked victims, whether it be for the sex industry or for cheap labor; what are we doing about the supply and demand chain, so I think it’s a many faceted failure.
The current situation is still complicated she says, and
according to information she receives from investigators working in the field,
internationals continue to be involved in sex trafficking.
Neglect from the
Bosnian government is only part of the problem, she feels. The question of
impunity is another key aspect and here, the onus is also on the
internationals.
Kathryn Bolkovac: I think that the situation Bosnia is made difficult
by the fact that there is so much inability to actually have checks and
balances in the system in regard to these prosecutions and also the fact that
the internationals who work there have such immunity to prosecutions, so I
think those are the main factors that have to be looked. I think the US
government should set an example by trying to prosecute more people, especially
American internationals who do commit these criminal acts overseas.
In the US itself, she says, domestic prosecution of such
crimes is taken very seriously, and cases have been very well publicized, but
the same zeal should be applied to cases overseas.
But the State
Department report sheds light on one another aspect too - the Bosnian
authorities’ capacity to combat trafficking is hampered by weak state-level
authorities and institutions created by the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords. Under
that agreement, Bosnia & Herzegovina is divided into 2 loosely joined entities. But some
progress is being made through joint actions, says Sanela Dervisbegovic.
Sanela Dervisbegovic: We have joined forces in recent months. All are
aware that this is a crucial and shared problem. But on the other hand, the
division into entities leaves space for maneuver by people who are in the
business of prostitution and trafficking in persons. That’s the gap where they
are profiting. I do hope that together they will do something. They are
cooperating with IPTF. The question is whether they are capable of solving everything,
because everything is so mixed.
But Bosnia has little
time in order to show results – if Washington is serious about its four-month
ultimatum. And the sanctions promise to be tough – an end to any aid except of
the humanitarian kind will hit countries like Bosnia severely.
Sanela Dervisbegovic: In any case that could
undermine the society and economy of Bosnia & Herzegovina, because
it is connected to IMF and all the other institutions. Unfortunately
prostitution exists and it will exist in the future. Maybe some solution is in
legalizing the trade, but Bosnia is a young civil society and probably we’ll
need a lot of time and years to solve those things.
That sex trafficking is a serious issue and has to be tackled on an urgent footing is not disputed by anybody. Whether sanctions are the best method is another question and many like Kathryn Bolkovac have doubts on that score.
Kathryn Bolkovac: In general, I’m usually not for sanctions but if there can’t be a tool for governments and lawmakers to enact more affective laws, for better prosecutions. And it would be useless if law enforcement is not effectively pursued, not only traffickers, but those who are traffickers are supplying. So, basically in this case, the international sex industry. I think that it would probably not be that productive.
And if sources in Sarajevo are to be believed, Bosnia
& Herzegovina will probably end up without facing any sanctions.
It is to be hoped though that authorities do not renege on their commitment to
combat this inhuman trade of the female body.
And that does it for this edition of UNMIK on Air program.
Thank you for listening.