Youth use arts to raise awareness about the dangers of trafficking

With one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, Bosnia and Herzegovina is fertile ground for human traffickers. Through peer educators and arts programs, World Vision is equipping communities, youth in particular, to raise awareness about the dangers of empty or embellished employment offers and alerting potential victims about the preferred methods used by those who would prey on the hopes and dreams of a better future of those struggling to get by on a daily basis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The unemployment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the highest in the world. Nearly half of the working population, 44 percent as of April 2012, is unemployed and the situation is even worse for youth.

The bleak employment outlook and limited opportunities for a better future make the country a difficult place for people to survive. And, growing frustrations and concerns also make it, and especially the youth, a fertile ground for traffickers who prey on the desires for employment, living wages and a better future.

Traffickers often lure people away from their communities and families with the promise of financial stability and promising employment opportunities. The reality is, however, once they reach their destinations, what they find often does not line up their expectations or look anything like what they were promised.

According to the United States State Department Trafficking in Persons Report from 2012, Bosnian trafficking victims are often subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor in Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Croatia, Spain and other European countries.

To raise awareness of these issues, World Vision created the “Combating trafficking in persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” project, designed to reach nine municipalities and 1,500 students. The project is funded by Royal Netherlands Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina and World Vision Canada.

Radislav, 15, comes from a small town in the northwestern section of the country. He has witnessed, firsthand, the impact the high unemployment rate and few opportunities is having on his community. “Many go to foreign countries to find work,” he says.

There was a time when he didn’t think much about the phenomenon. “Before, I knew very little about trafficking,” he says. But, thanks to World Vision, he learned that the impacts and dangers are great. “After going through the training, I realized that trafficking is a serious issue. It is the third most profitable criminal activity, right after drug and arms trafficking” he says.

Today, Radislav understand why many people still feel the need to look for work outside of their country, “but, if they do not think carefully about it, they can get into big troubles,” he says, as he has seen from the experiences of people he knows.

“My friend talked about going to work abroad as soon as he finished primary school,” he remembers. “He said that his uncle [could] help him find something.”

Radislav immediately became concerned for his friend. “I advised him not to go,” he says. “[In] the end, he stayed here and is now attending school.”

For the past two years, Radislav has been part of the World Vision project to combat the trafficking of persons where children and youth illustrate the risk of eng recruited by traffickers through theatre and workshops to their peers and community members. As a peer educator, Radislav also gives presentations to other students in school.

A growing problem

„The youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina [are] still threatened by human trafficking“ says Lana Jajčević from the Udružene žene (United Women) Association, a group that partners with World Vision.

“We are [a] very poor country and many of the young people, while looking for jobs, want to use every opportunity available. They become light minded, ready to accept offers without thinking,” she adds.

And, with the modern technologies, criminals are adjusting their modes of recruiting young people and increasingly using the Internet or social media as their bait. “There can never be enough education,” adds Jajcevic.

“New generations are coming and it is important to continue with their education as well. We also need to continue updating our knowledge and skills, because criminals are adjusting all the time,” she adds.

- For more information on the Anti-trafficking workshops please visit following link: http://beta.wvi.org/content/realities-human-trafficking-hit-home-through-theatre-plays