VZCZCXRO5748
OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVJ #0181/01 0431344
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121344Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9698
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 15 SARAJEVO 000181 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
G/TIP FOR ROFMAN/DONNELY; EUR/SCE FOR FOOKS/MCGUIRE; 
EUR/PGI FOR BUCKNEBERG; NSC FOR HELGERSON; G-ACBLANK, INL, 
DRL, PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF KTIP AADP ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN
SMIG, BK 
SUBJECT: BOSNIA - SUBMISSION FOR THE 2009 TIP REPORT 
 
REF: 2008 STATE 132759 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  001.2 OF 015 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  This cable constitutes Post's submission for 
the 2009 TIP report for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).  Post's 
point of contact for trafficking issues is Poloff Patrick 
Hanish, tel:  387-33-445-700 x2312, fax:  387-33-659-722, 
e-mail: HanishPN@state.gov.  Time spent preparing the report: 
Polcouns (FS-01): 3 hours; Poloff (FS-02): 40 hours; Pol FSN 
(FSN-08) 30 hours.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Paragraph 23: 
 
OVERVIEW 
-------- 
 
-- A. What is (are) the source(s) of available information on 
trafficking in persons?  What plans are in place (if any) to 
undertake further documentation of human trafficking?  How 
reliable are these sources? 
 
The State Coordinator oversees the government's TIP database, 
which compiles information from NGOs, the State Investigative 
and Protection Agency (SIPA), the State Border Police (SBP), 
local, entity- and state-level police agencies, and 
prosecutors' offices.  Individual NGOs, including NGOs which 
operate shelters, are also useful sources of information on 
trafficking and related societal dynamics.  Generally, post 
assess official sources to be very reliable on providing 
information on arrests, prosecutions, convictions, and 
assistance to victims.  NGOs are often very reliable in 
information on victim history and status, as well as 
continuing problems of TIP-related advocacy work.  OSCE has 
undertaken, in cooperation with an NGO, further study of 
victim patterns, and the State Coordinator's office and 
Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees plans to further 
investigate trafficking/child pornography issues and child 
begging issues. 
 
For further discussion of the National Action Plan, see item 
25.A. below. 
 
-- B. Is the country a country of origin, transit, and/or 
destination for internationally trafficked men, women, or 
children?  Does trafficking occur within the country's 
borders?  If so, does internal trafficking occur in territory 
outside of the government's control (e.g. in a civil war 
situation)?  To where are people trafficked? For what 
purposes are they trafficked?  Provide, where possible, 
numbers or estimates for each group of trafficking victims. 
Have there been any changes in the TIP situation since the 
last TIP Report (e.g. changes in destinations)? 
 
The country was primarily a country of origin for women and 
girls trafficked domestically for sexual exploitation, and, 
to a much lesser extent, a destination and transit point for 
foreign trafficking. To date, there have been no registered 
cases of males trafficked for sexual exploitation, although 
there are reports that Romani children, including boys, have 
been trafficked for forced labor to serve in begging rings. 
 
More than half of all documented trafficking victims were 
minors. Authorities observed a continuing trend of victims 
primarily being trafficked domestically during the year, far 
surpassing the number of foreign victims.  During the 
reporting period the Office of the State Antitrafficking 
Coordinator registered 29 total trafficking victims.  Of the 
29 total, 25 were domestic trafficking victims, a continued 
increase on last year's percentage (almost 80 percent) were 
domestic victims, indicating a continued increase in the 
percentage of domestic victims.  The remaining four victims 
were foreign, one from Serbia, one from Iraq, and two from 
Ukraine.  More than half of all victims were minors. 
 
Roma community representatives report instances of domestic 
trafficking for forcible marriage.  Roma community 
representatives also report instances of attempted 
recruitment of Roma girls by non-Roma individuals, believed 
linked to organized crime (ostensibly to be "au pairs" in 
Western Europe). 
 
Although there are no reliable estimates, women may have been 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  002.2 OF 015 
 
 
trafficked on to Western Europe. Of the four foreign victims 
identified in Bosnia, one lured with promises of employment 
in Italy, and one was promised a pre-arranged marriage in 
Germany.  Those who transited the country generally continued 
on via Croatia. 
 
The main source on the number of trafficking victims assisted 
during the reporting period was the Ministry of Security's 
Office of the State Coordinator. The State Coordinator 
oversees the government's TIP database which compiles 
information from NGOs, the State Border Police (SBP), local, 
entity and state-level police agencies and prosecutors 
offices. 
 
-- C. What kind of conditions are the victims trafficked into? 
 
According to non-governmental organizations that work on 
combating trafficking in persons, the few foreign victims 
found in Bosnia were lured by false job offers to work as 
waitresses or domestic servants, offers of pre-arranged 
marriage, or promises of transit to Western Europe for the 
same.  Some NGOs reported that trafficking victims were lured 
into the country by promises of marriage to traffickers or 
their associates, while others knowingly entered into false 
marriages to obtain work and residence permits.  Most 
trafficked women entered the country through Serbia or 
Montenegro.  Many foreign victims arrive in BiH via legal 
border crossings with Serbia or Montenegro and carry real or 
false identity cards or passports.  Passports are not 
required for BiH citizens to enter Serbia, Montenegro or 
Croatia (and vice versa for citizens of those countries). 
 
In response to successful police actions against such 
establishments, the criminal modality linked to sexual 
exploitation within BiH has shifted from "night bars" and 
restaurants, cafes and gas stations to private apartments and 
houses. Traffickers are increasingly sending women on calls 
or bringing would-be clients to safe-houses. The use of 
intermediaries, including taxi drivers, bar operators, 
pensioners at cafes or others to tip-off or bring clients to 
a location where victims are held was becoming more common. 
 
-- D. Vulnerability to TIP: Are certain groups of persons 
more at risk of being trafficked (e.g. women and children, 
boys versus girls, certain ethnic groups, refugees, IDPs, 
etc.)? 
 
Trafficking largely occurs within the country's borders, 
especially with domestic victims.  The most common domestic 
age group recruited for sexual exploitation is women between 
18 and 25 years old, although there were also a growing 
number of underage victims -- some as young as 12.  Domestic 
victims often include:  Roma women and teenage girls; persons 
with mild developmental disabilities; orphans; persons from 
destroyed or single-parent households were more likely to be 
recruited.  For domestic victims, poverty was generally a 
contributing factor. 
 
-- E. Traffickers and Their Methods: Who are the traffickers/ 
exploiters?  Are they independent business people?  Small or 
family-based crime groups?  Large international organized 
crime syndicates?  What methods are used to approach victims? 
 For example, are they offered lucrative jobs, sold by their 
families, or approached by friends of friends?  What methods 
are used to move the victims (e.g., are false documents being 
used?).  Are employment, travel, and tourism agencies or 
marriage brokers involved with or fronting for traffickers or 
crime groups to traffic individuals? 
 
Traffickers in BiH are generally part of small, local 
criminal organizations, often operating on a local or 
regional level in-country.  Those few that engage in 
cross-boarder trafficking are understood to be loosely 
affiliated with similar organizations in other countries, 
especially in neighboring Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. 
Large international organized crime syndicates are not known 
to be involved in trafficking in BiH.  There were no specific 
reports of employment, travel or tourism agencies having 
involvement in trafficking.  There were rumors, however, that 
minor girls, especially within the Romani community, were 
unwillingly trafficked by family members or others into 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  003.2 OF 015 
 
 
arranged marriages. 
 
Recruitment methods vary, but include job offers in Western 
Europe, false marriages to traffickers' associates to obtain 
residency permits and jobs, and girls being sold by their 
parents.  Traffickers also attract customers via classified 
ads in publications.  There were also reports of forcibly 
"recruiting" females, especially minors, into trafficking 
through the threat of physical violence if the girls do not 
comply.  Because of high unemployment rates, employers also 
successfully target women working in unregistered jobs on the 
black market, forcing them to perform sexual acts at the risk 
of losing their jobs. 
 
Victims are usually kept in private apartments, motels, gas 
stations, or driven to a location where they are forced to 
provide sexual services to pre-arranged clients.  There are 
several reports of victims working in conditions akin to 
slavery, with little or no financial support. In some cases, 
traffickers paid victims some wages so that they could send 
money home to their families.  Traffickers coerced victims to 
remain in these situations through intimidation, verbal 
threats, seizure of passports, withholding of food and 
medical care, and physical and sexual assault.  To keep 
victims in the country legally, traffickers also made victims 
apply for asylum since, as asylum seekers, they were entitled 
to remain in the country until their claims could be 
adjudicated. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Paragraph 24: 
 
SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP EFFORTS 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
-- A. Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a 
problem in the country?  If not, why not? 
 
The government acknowledges that TIP is a problem and makes 
significant efforts to combat TIP in BiH. 
 
-- B. Which government agencies are involved in 
anti-trafficking efforts and which agency, if any, has the 
lead? 
 
The Office of the State Coordinator for Anti-trafficking 
within the Ministry of Security (MOS) has the lead role in 
anti-TIP efforts.  The State Coordinator's mandate includes 
coordination of victim protection efforts among NGOs, law 
enforcement and government institutions. The BiH State 
Prosecutors Office has exclusive jurisdiction over 
trafficking cases and can decide which cases to prosecute at 
the state-level and which to send to the entity-level.  A 
nationwide interagency investigative task force to combat 
trafficking, the Anti-trafficking Strike Force, was chaired 
by the chief state prosecutor and included prosecutors, 
police, and financial investigators who targeted trafficking 
and illegal migration.  The following government agencies are 
also involved in the Inter-Ministerial Working Group to 
Combat Trafficking: at the state-level, the Ministry of Human 
Rights and Refugees, the State Border Police (SBP), the 
Ministry of Justice, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and 
the Ministry of Security.  At the entity-level, the 
Ministries of Interior (MUPs), Ministries of Health, 
Ministries of Labor and Social Welfare and Ministries of 
Education contributed to anti-trafficking efforts. 
Prosecutors at the state, entity and local levels are also 
involved. 
 
-- C. What are the limitations on the government's ability to 
address this problem in practice?  For example, is funding 
for police or other institutions inadequate?  Is overall 
corruption a problem?  Does the government lack the resources 
to aid victims? 
 
The government's ability to address TIP is limited in 
practice due to limited funding and the complexity of 
Bosnia's political structure. In 2008, the State 
Coordinator's office dispersed an estimated total of $200,000 
to combat trafficking in persons.  An additional $22,400 was 
provided through the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, 
primarily for the repatriation of domestic victims.  The 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  004.2 OF 015 
 
 
Ministry of Security allotted funding of 200,000 KM 
($133,333) for assistance to foreign citizen of trafficking 
(including repatriation assistance) in 2008.  However, given 
the small number of foreign trafficking victims (only four in 
2008), this number was decreased to 100,000 KM ($66,667) for 
¶2009.  The amount of assistance to domestic victims of 
trafficking was marginally increased to 45,000 KM ($30,000) 
for 2009. 
 
Corruption in BiH, as related to funding for TIP, has not 
been assessed to be a problem.  In 2008, the budget of the 
State Coordinator's Office was incorporated into the Ministry 
of Security budget as a separate line item.  Funds are 
transparently allotted as a line item of the Ministries of 
Security and Human Rights and Refugees.  NGOs who are 
eligible recipients of funding meet regularly with ministry 
staff, apply for funding based on number of victims assisted, 
and confirm to us receipt of funds. 
 
The greatest limitation placed on the government of BiH's 
fight against trafficking is the continuing stalemate among 
political leaders, ethnic divides, and cumbersome 
administrative structure imposed by the Dayton constitution. 
The opportunity for legislative stonewalling and tit-for-tat 
political games impedes work in trafficking, along with 
virtually all other areas of government activity.  Lack of 
cooperation among geographically and ethnically divided law 
enforcement and prosecutorial agencies often severely 
complicates national-level solutions to trafficking problems. 
 
-- D. To what extent does the government systematically 
monitor its anti-trafficking efforts (on all fronts -- 
prosecution, victim protection, and prevention) and 
periodically make available, publicly or privately and 
directly or through regional/international organizations, its 
assessments of these anti-trafficking efforts? 
 
The government monitors anti-trafficking efforts in a number 
of ways. The Antitrafficking Strike Force, which meets two 
times per month and includes police and prosecutors from all 
agencies and entities, as well as representatives of USDOJ's 
Overseas Prosecutorial Development and Assistance Training 
(OPDAT) program,  monitors the progress of TIP investigations 
and prosecutions and reports to the State Coordinator.  There 
is also a working group with NGO and international community 
representatives, chaired by the State Coordinator, which 
assesses prevention and protection issues.  There are also a 
number of thematic working groups on specific areas of 
concern, including trafficking of children.  The State 
Coordinator also publishes (in print and electronic versions) 
its Annual Report on trafficking, which includes data 
gathered from prosecutors, NGOs and police agencies 
throughout BiH. The State Coordinator's Office maintains an 
active anti-trafficking website (www.antitrafficking.gov.ba). 
 
¶4. (SBU) Paragraph 25: 
 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
For questions A-D, posts should highlight in particular 
whether or not the country has enacted any new legislation 
since the last TIP report. 
 
-- A. Existing Laws against TIP: Does the country have a law 
or laws specifically prohibiting trafficking in persons -- 
both for sexual exploitation and labor?  If so, please 
specifically cite the name of the law(s) and its date of 
enactment and provide the exact language (actual copies 
preferable) of the TIP provisions.  Please provide a full 
inventory of trafficking laws, including non-criminal 
statutes that allow for civil penalties against alleged 
trafficking crimes (e.g., civil forfeiture laws and laws 
against illegal debt). Does the law(s) cover both internal 
and transnational forms of trafficking?  If not, under what 
other laws can traffickers be prosecuted?  For example, are 
there laws against slavery or the exploitation of 
prostitution by means of force, fraud, or coercion?  Are 
these other laws being used in trafficking cases? 
 
Article 186 of the BiH Criminal Code prohibits trafficking 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  005.2 OF 015 
 
 
for sexual exploitation, forced labor and organ 
transplantation. Article 186 covers the "recruitment, 
transfer, harboring or receipt" of trafficked persons, making 
it applicable to both transnational and internal trafficking. 
 Article 187 of the BiH Criminal Code prohibits international 
procurement for prostitution, and provides prosecutors with 
another option in pursuing international traffickers. 
Articles 186 and 187 of the Criminal Code are harmonized with 
the Palermo Protocol.  If the evidence is not sufficient to 
support prosecution under Articles 186 and 187, traffickers 
may also be prosecuted at the state level for slavery 
(Article 185, which also prohibits selling children for 
adoption), unlawful withholding of identity papers (Article 
188) and alien smuggling (Article 189).  The Federation and 
RS Criminal Codes also prohibit trafficking and related 
crimes.  Pimping is a major crime (equivalent to a felony) 
under both state-and entity level criminal codes, and carries 
a penalty ranging from 1-5 years if the victim is an adult, 
and 3-15 years if the victim is a minor.  A number of 
traffickers have been prosecuted for pimping and pandering 
where the evidence was not sufficient to support an 
indictment for trafficking.  Taken together, these laws 
adequately cover the full scope of trafficking in persons. 
 
In addition to criminal penalties, some NGOs are assisting 
victims in filing civil compensation claims for medical 
bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, etc.  At this time, 
BiH's criminal asset forfeiture law requires proof that all 
items being seized were acquired with the proceeds of illegal 
activity.  In practice, this standard is difficult to meet, 
so criminal asset forfeiture has not been widely used in TIP 
or organized crime cases.  Through the U.S. Marshals, OPDAT 
is providing training to BiH prosecutors on asset forfeiture, 
which will hopefully lead to increased seizures in coming 
years.  During the reporting period, there was no seizure of 
assets connected to trafficking cases in BiH. 
Misunderstandings are common because of the existence of four 
different penal codes, with the state, Federation, RS and 
Brcko District maintaining distinct criminal statutes. 
 
In 2007, the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against 
Trafficking in Persons entered into force, the first European 
agreement in this area.  This Convention, to which BiH is a 
signatory, focuses on protection of trafficking victims and 
their rights.  At the proposal of the State Coordinator's 
Office, the Council of Ministers adopted in July, 2007 The 
Rules on Protection of Victims and Witnesses of Human 
Trafficking who are Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 
Rules were adopted as a binding standard of protection of 
human rights for BiH victims and victim witnesses of human 
trafficking and establish principles and common operational 
standards relating to identification procedures, protection 
and assistance, primary and secondary prevention and other 
activities benefiting the protection and assistance of 
victims and witnesses of TIP from Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
 
At the end of 2007, the State Coordinator's Office finalized 
the new National Action Plan for 2008-2012.  Using a human 
rights-based approach, the new Action Plan foresees a 
comprehensive package of goals and measures in the areas of 
prevention, protection and prosecution for the next five 
years.  To ensure the effective implementation of these 
goals, the new Action Plan also includes measures for the 
evaluation of implemented activities and for the referral of 
trafficking victims.  The Council of Ministers is expected to 
adopt the Action Plan in the near future. 
 
-- B. Punishment of Sex Trafficking Offenses: What are the 
prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking people for 
sexual exploitation? 
 
The maximum penalty for any trafficking offense under Article 
186 is ten years' imprisonment; defendants may be sentenced 
to a total of 20 years if certain aggravating circumstances 
are present.  If the trafficker was involved in the sexual 
exploitation of a minor, the penalty carries a minimum of 
five years' imprisonment. 
 
During the reporting period, Federation Courts convicted 
seven individuals of trafficking-related offenses, all of 
whom received suspended sentences (four of which were through 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  006.2 OF 015 
 
 
plea bargains).  Within the Federation, at the Cantonal 
level, a total of 54 cases (of which 12 cases were begun 
prior to the reporting period) were in proceedings.  From 
these cases, 16 persons were convicted of trafficking-related 
offenses.  Of these 16 persons, nine were imprisoned. 
 
In Republika Srpska's criminal code, trafficking in human 
beings for prostitution is a crime.  In 2008, there were no 
changes to any legal provisions regarding trafficking in 
persons.  During 2008, the Prosecutor's Office of Republika 
Srpska received 18 criminal charges for trafficking in 
persons.  Of that, 15 cases were investigated, and two cases 
were pending investigation.  In addition to 14 investigations 
ongoing from previous years, a total of 29 investigations 
were ongoing during the reporting period. 
 
Eight cases reached indictment; investigation was suspended 
in seven cases; investigation continued in 14 cases.  11 
persons were convicted and received prison sentences.  Of 
those 11, in three cases the Court rendered lighter prison 
sentences (three months for each) after accepting plea 
bargains.  In these cases, the defendants agreed to testify 
against the organizers of human trafficking rings, who 
received longer prison sentences. 
 
In the Brcko District, a law exists regarding the "criminal 
act against sexual freedom and morale" (Section 19 of the 
Brcko district criminal code).  However, a number of 
different types of crimes exist under this law, not all of 
which relate to trafficking (including exploitation of a 
minor, and other types of sexual abuse).  "Enticement to 
prostitution" is, however, one of the sub-categories, and is 
considered a trafficking-related offense.  Overall, 11 
perpetrators were charged under Section 19, related to eight 
victims (five of whom were minors).  No further break-down of 
data as to the type of crime was available. 
 
The BiH State Court had four ongoing cases (against a total 
of 19 persons) involving trafficking offenses at year's end, 
one of which was the re-trail of a 2006 conviction based on 
procedural flaws in the initial trial.  No individuals 
received fines as punishment. 
 
-- C. Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses: What are the 
prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking for labor 
exploitation, such as forced or bonded labor?  If your 
country is a source country for labor migrants, do the 
government's laws provide for criminal punishment -- i.e. 
jail time -- for labor recruiters who engage in recruitment 
of workers using knowingly fraudulent or deceptive offers 
with the purpose of subjecting workers to trafficking in the 
destination country?  If your country is a destination for 
labor migrants, are there laws punishing employers or labor 
agents who confiscate workers' passports or travel documents 
for the purpose of trafficking, switch contracts without the 
worker's consent as a means to keep the worker in a state of 
service, or withhold payment of salaries as means of keeping 
the worker in a state of service? 
 
Bosnian law does not differentiate between trafficking for 
sexual purposes and trafficking for labor.  Bosnia was 
neither a source nor a destination country for forced or 
bonded labor. 
 
-- D. What are the prescribed penalties for rape or forcible 
sexual assault? (NOTE:  This is necessary to evaluate a 
foreign government's compliance with TVPA Minimum Standard 2, 
which reads: "For the knowing commission of any act of sex 
trafficking . . . the government of the country should 
prescribe punishment commensurate with that for grave crimes, 
such as forcible sexual assault (rape)."  END NOTE) 
 
The maximum penalty for rape is 20 years, with aggravating 
circumstance.  Rape penalties parallel the penalties for 
trafficking offenses in that to receive the maximum sentence, 
aggravating circumstances must be present. 
 
-- E. Law Enforcement Statistics: Did the government 
prosecute any cases against human trafficking offenders 
during the reporting period?  If so, provide numbers of 
investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  007.2 OF 015 
 
 
imposed, including details on plea bargains and fines, if 
relevant and available.  Please note the number of convicted 
traffickers who received suspended sentences and the number 
who received only a fine as punishment. 
Please indicate which laws were used to investigate, 
prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers.  Also, if 
possible, please disaggregate numbers of cases by type of TIP 
(labor vs. commercial sexual exploitation) and victims 
(children under 18 years of age vs. adults).  If in a labor 
source country, did the government criminally prosecute labor 
recruiters who recruit workers using knowingly fraudulent or 
deceptive offers or by imposing fees or commissions for the 
purpose of subjecting the worker to debt bondage?  Did the 
government in a labor destination country criminally 
prosecute employers or labor agents who confiscate workers' 
passports/travel documents for the purpose of trafficking, 
switch contracts or terms of employment without the worker's 
consent to keep workers in a state of service, use physical 
or sexual abuse or the threat of such abuse to keep workers 
in a state of service, or withhold payment of salaries as a 
means to keep workers in a state of service?  What were the 
actual punishments imposed on persons convicted of these 
offenses?  Are the traffickers serving the time sentenced? 
If not, why not? 
 
For information on imposed sentences and types of trafficking 
cases, please see items 25.B. and 23.B. above. 
 
The BiH State Prosecutor's office has exclusive jurisdiction 
over trafficking cases and can decide which cases to 
prosecute at the state level and which to send to the entity 
courts.  The nationwide interagency investigative task force 
to combat trafficking, the Antitrafficking Strike Force, was 
chaired by the chief state prosecutor and included 
prosecutors, police, and financial investigators and targeted 
trafficking and illegal migration.  BiH government plans call 
for SIPA (an institution formed in 2006) to take over the 
responsibilities of the Antitrafficking Strike Force as its 
capacity to coordinate anti-trafficking work expands. 
 
The government provided the following case statistics through 
its TIP database, maintained by SIPA.  This database contains 
information contributed by all police agencies, NGOs and 
prosecutors. TIP data is also harmonized and reported in the 
State Coordinator's annual report. The State Coordinator 
reported 29 registered TIP victims during 2007, although he 
noted that there are likely to be many more victims who do 
not come to the attention of the authorities. 
 
SIPA submitted 36 reports (related to a total of 57 
individuals) of criminal acts related to trafficking in 
persons for sexual exploitation. 
 
During the reporting period, the Prosecutor's Office 
prosecuted two cases involving five juvenile victims and 
seven defendants. All defendants are charged with trafficking 
for the purposes of exploitation.  All the victims are BiH 
nationals.  Currently, there are 11 individuals under 
investigation for trafficking in human beings. 
 
Regarding sentencing, the current sentences range from 10 to 
15 years of imprisonment but varies based on several 
circumstances,  such as the degree of criminal liability, the 
motives for perpetrating the offense, the degree of danger or 
injury to the protected object, the circumstances in which 
the offense was perpetrated, and the past and present conduct 
of the perpetrator. 
 
-- F. Does the government provide any specialized training 
for government officials in how to recognize, investigate, 
and prosecute instances of trafficking? Specify whether NGOs, 
international organizations, and/or the USG provide 
specialized training for host government officials. 
 
The government provides specialized training for government 
officials on recognition, investigation and prosecution of 
trafficking. During the reporting period, the State 
Coordinator's Office partnered with Caritas of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in a campaign 
to increase public awareness of trafficking in persons, 
specifically targeting young people seeking employment 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  008.2 OF 015 
 
 
outside BiH.  Materials for the public awareness campaign 
were distributed to all diplomatic-consular missions and to 
all missions of international organizations in BiH (through 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH), State Border Police 
offices, universities, shopping centers and primary and 
secondary schools. 
 
In 2007, The State Coordinator's Office partnered with Save 
the Children Norway and NGO Citizens Association Medica in a 
regional program to target at-risk children and improve the 
rights of child victims of trafficking. In cooperation with 
Save the Children Norway, the government developed a manual 
for police, prosecutors, social centers and health care 
institutions on preventing children from becoming victims of 
TIP.  The State Coordinator's Office also drafted 
standardized operating procedures for dealing with child 
victims in the "Standardized Practices of Different 
Professionals in Protection and Treatment of Children Victims 
of Trafficking and Victim Witnesses of Human Trafficking in 
BiH." 
 
Bosnian judicial centers provide basic training for all 
judges and prosecutors. During the course of their education, 
judges, prosecutors, and legal associates are taught the 
elements of trafficking and what should be proven. Law 
enforcement academies, in particular the BiH border police, 
educate cadets on how to recognize trafficking as a 
cross-border crime. 
 
-- G. Does the government cooperate with other governments in 
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases?  If 
possible, provide the number of cooperative international 
investigations on trafficking during the reporting period. 
 
BiH has active cooperation with other governments, especially 
the neighboring countries of Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. 
BiH has signed bilateral agreements on cooperation in 
organized crimes cases (including trafficking in persons) 
with the State Prosecutor's Offices of Croatia, Serbia, 
Montenegro and Macedonia. Unfortunately, BiH has no binding 
bilateral agreements regarding witness protection, which 
makes it more difficult to participate effectively in 
international investigations.  However, in 2007 in 
partnership with the International Center for Migration 
Politics (ICMPD), the second phase of a Project to support 
the transnational referral mechanism for trafficking victims 
(TRMP) in southeastern Europe was launched. Bosnia and 
Herzegovina became an ICMPD member in 2006. The number of 
ongoing cooperative international investigations was not 
available during the reporting period, although four cases of 
BiH nationals trafficked to other countries were returned to 
BiH through utilization of an international case referral 
mechanism. 
 
Since its establishment, the State Prosecutor's Office of 
Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued to cooperate with 
prosecutors from other countries in the region fighting 
various types of crime, including trafficking in human 
beings. 
 
The contribution of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina to the development of cooperation at the 
international and regional level is specially reflected in 
the framework of the international Southeast European 
Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG), regional South East 
European Cooperative Initiative within the project of 
regional cooperation pursuant to the Memorandum on 
Cooperation of Prosecutors of Western Balkans within the 
CARDS program as well as European program on cooperation of 
Prosecutors (CPGE) and the network for cooperation of 
judiciary of European Union EUROJUST. It is worth mentioning 
that the BiH State Prosecutor's Office signed a memorandum of 
understanding with all prosecutor's Offices in the region 
(Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro) to 
cooperate closely in repressing, investigating and 
prosecuting perpetrators of organized crime, criminal groups 
and criminal associations. 
 
-- H. Does the government extradite persons who are charged 
with trafficking in other countries?  If so, please provide 
the number of traffickers extradited during the reporting 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  009.2 OF 015 
 
 
period, and the number of trafficking extraditions pending. 
In particular, please report on any pending or concluded 
extraditions of trafficking offenders to the United States. 
 
Extradition of non-citizens is permitted, but there were no 
extraditions of traffickers during the reporting period, nor 
were any extraditions requested.  The BiH Criminal Procedure 
Code prohibits the extradition of Bosnian citizens. However, 
the State Prosecutor can bring cases against Bosnian citizens 
for crimes committed outside Bosnian territory.  There are 
currently no efforts underway to modify laws to permit the 
extradition of Bosnian nationals. 
 
-- I. Is there evidence of government involvement in or 
tolerance of trafficking, on a local or institutional level? 
If so, please explain in detail. 
 
On December 18, 2007 members of the RS Ministry of Interior 
arrested nine persons from Derventa and Prnjavor suspected of 
human trafficking.  This case involved the forced 
prostitution of three juvenile girls from Derventa and 
Prnjavor municipalities in the RS.  Among those arrested were 
two employees of the Derventa Center for Social Welfare and 
the Director of the Derventa Technical High School.  The 
trafficking case was opened after one of the victims came 
forward.  One of the victims has alleged that one of the men 
she was forced to have sex with is Derventa Mayor Milorad 
Simic, who has denied the accusations.  At the end of the 
reporting period, the case was still being investigated by 
the BiH State Prosecutor's Office and two of the nine 
individuals arrested were in police custody.  The case was 
ongoing at the end of the reporting period. 
 
Both entities' police forces have Police Standards Units 
(PSUs), which are charged with investigating and disciplining 
officers for criminal offenses or dereliction of duty.  There 
were no prosecutions or convictions of government officials 
for involvement in trafficking during the reporting period. 
 
There continued to be anecdotal reports of police and other 
official involvement in trafficking, particularly at the 
local level. Victims' groups alleged that, because of strong 
local networks, local police often willfully ignored or 
actively protected consumers or perpetrators of trafficking 
activity, often accepting bribes in return. 
 
-- J. If government officials are involved in trafficking, 
what steps has the government taken to end such 
participation?  Please indicate the number of government 
officials investigated and prosecuted for involvement in 
trafficking or trafficking-related corruption during the 
reporting period.  Have any been convicted?  What sentence(s) 
was imposed?  Please specify if officials received suspended 
sentences, or were given a fine, fired, or reassigned to 
another position within the government as punishment.  Please 
indicate the number of convicted officials that received 
suspended sentences or received only a fine as punishment. 
 
To date there have been only a few documented cases of 
official involvement in trafficking, and no official 
indictments have been made. 
 
-- K. Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? 
Specifically, are the activities of the prostitute 
criminalized?  Are the activities of the brothel 
owner/operator, clients, pimps, and enforcers criminalized? 
Are these laws enforced?  If prostitution is legal and 
regulated, what is the legal minimum age for this activity? 
Note that in countries with federalist systems, prostitution 
laws may be under state or local jurisdiction and may differ 
among jurisdictions. 
 
Prostitution is illegal in BiH. Prostitutes can be prosecuted 
for their activities as a minor (misdemeanor) offense in the 
Federation and Brcko District, which is usually punishable by 
a fine.  Clients can also be prosecuted, but this very rarely 
occurs.  In the RS, engaging in prostitution itself is not a 
crime.  Pimping and pandering are major (felony) offenses in 
both the RS and the Federation, and such laws are frequently 
used to prosecute brothel owners and some traffickers.  The 
maximum penalty for pimping is 15 years' imprisonment if the 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  010.2 OF 015 
 
 
victim is a minor; five years if the victim is an adult. 
 
-- L. For countries that contribute troops to international 
peacekeeping efforts, please indicate whether the government 
vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced 
nationals of the country deployed abroad as part of a 
peacekeeping or other similar mission who engaged in or 
facilitated severe forms of trafficking or who exploited 
victims of such trafficking. 
 
BiH has less than a hundred troops employed abroad as part of 
a peacekeeping mission and there have been no reports of any 
member engaging in or facilitating trafficking in persons. 
However, during the reporting period, the State Ministry of 
Defense, in cooperation with the OSCE, began a further 
training program for peacekeepers and their commanders, 
familiarizing them with ways to identify trafficking, 
responsibility to report trafficking, and relevant laws 
prohibiting trafficking. 
 
-- M. If the country has an identified problem of child sex 
tourists coming to the country, what are the countries of 
origin for sex tourists?  How many foreign pedophiles did the 
government prosecute or deport/extradite to their country of 
origin?  If your host country's nationals are perpetrators of 
child sex tourism, do the country's child sexual abuse laws 
have extraterritorial coverage (similar to the U.S. PROTECT 
Act) to allow the prosecution of suspected sex tourists for 
crimes committed abroad?  If so, how many of the country's 
nationals were prosecuted and/or convicted during the 
reporting period under the extraterritorial provision(s) for 
traveling to other countries to engage in child sex tourism? 
 
BiH does not have an identified child sex tourism problem, 
either as a source or destination country.  The country's 
child sex abuse laws do not have extraterritorial provisions 
similar to the U.S. PROTECT ACT. 
 
During the reporting period, BiH authorities, including 10 
prosecutors' offices at different levels of government, 
cooperated in "Operation Sledgehammer," an inter-agency 
effort to combat dissemination of child pornography.  Two 
major raids were conducted as a result of this operation. 
The cases were ongoing at the end of the reporting period. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Paragraph 26: 
 
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
------------------------------------ 
 
-- A.  What kind of protection is the government able under 
existing law to provide for victims and witnesses? Does it 
provide these protections in practice? 
 
A person identified as a TIP victim through the government's 
screening and referral process is eligible for a humanitarian 
visa for a legal, temporary stay in BiH.  Prior to requesting 
such a visa, victims are permitted a 30-day "reflection 
period," recently lengthened from the previous 15-day 
allowance.  During the reporting period, two TIP victims 
requested residence permits on humanitarian grounds.  Both 
these requests were approved. 
 
-- B.  Does the country have victim care facilities (shelters 
or drop-in centers) which are accessible to trafficking 
victims?  Do foreign victims have the same access to care as 
domestic trafficking victims?  Where are child victims placed 
(e.g., in shelters, foster care, or juvenile justice 
detention centers)?  Does the country have specialized care 
for adults in addition to children? Does the country have 
specialized care for male victims as well as female?   Does 
the country have specialized facilities dedicated to helping 
victims of trafficking? Are these facilities operated by the 
government or by NGOs?  What is the funding source of these 
facilities? Please estimate the amount the government spent 
(in U.S. dollar equivalent) on these specialized facilities 
dedicated to helping trafficking victims during the reporting 
period. 
 
The State Coordinator's Office oversees shelter management 
and ensures that NGOs meet agreed-upon standards in providing 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  011.2 OF 015 
 
 
victim assistance.  The Ministry of Security, through a 
memorandum of understanding, delegates victim assistance to 
six local NGOs that provide shelter, medical and 
psychological assistance to both domestic and foreign TIP 
victims throughout the country.  The six NGOs (La Strada, 
Medica Zenica, Forum of Solidarity, Lara, Zena s Une, and 
Zena BiH) run seven shelters located in Mostar, Sarajevo, 
Banja Luka, Doboj, and Bijeljina.  Each shelter has a 
part-time psychologist on staff.   The local NGO "Vasa Prava" 
has a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of 
Security and provides pro bono legal assistance to 
trafficking victims housed in NGO shelters immediately upon 
their placement in the shelter.  Health care is provided 
either at the shelters by visiting medical professionals or 
at local clinics and hospitals.  One local NGO has a pilot 
reintegration program offering vocational training and 
counseling to domestic TIP victims.  The State Ministry of 
Human Rights and Refugees has committed funds for 
re-integration and rehabilitation of victims, which NGOs may 
also apply for in relation to the total number of victims 
they assist. 
 
-- C.  Does the government provide trafficking victims with 
access to legal, medical and psychological services? If so, 
please specify the kind of assistance provided. Does the 
government provide funding or other forms of support to 
foreign or domestic NGOs and/or international organizations 
for providing these services to trafficking victims?  Please 
explain and provide any funding amounts in U.S. dollar 
equivalent.  If assistance provided was in-kind, please 
specify exact assistance.  Please specify if funding for 
assistance comes from a federal budget or from regional or 
local governments. 
 
The state-level (federal) government provides assistance to 
the six NGOs who run shelters to help subsidize the cost of 
shelter operations.  During the reporting period, the 
government disbursed approximately $133,333 (200,000 KM) for 
the State Coordinator's Office to support shelters providing 
victim assistance. 
 
Additionally, the government allocated approximately $30,000 
(45,000 KM) to the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees to 
support a reintegration and health care fund for domestic 
victims of trafficking. 
 
The government of BiH, through the State Anti-Trafficking 
Coordinator's Office, funded operation of a TIP hotline by 
the NGO La Strada.  The hotline, reachable through BiH via a 
"short dial" four-digit number, allows easy access by TIP 
victims to immediate assistance. 
 
See also response to item 26.B. 
 
-- D. Does the government assist foreign trafficking victims, 
for example, by providing temporary to permanent residency 
status, or other relief from deportation?  If so, please 
explain. 
 
A person identified as a TIP victim through the government's 
screening and referral process is eligible for a humanitarian 
visa for a legal, temporary stay in BiH.  During the 
reporting period, nine TIP victims requested residence 
permits on humanitarian grounds. Eight of these requests were 
approved and one was still under consideration at the end of 
the reporting period. 
 
-- E. Does the government provide longer-term shelter or 
housing benefits to victims or other resources to aid the 
victims in rebuilding their lives? 
 
Yes, there are seven shelters located throughout BiH, 
operated by six NGOs, which receive funding from the Ministry 
of Security and the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees on 
a per-victim basis.  There is no established limit to the 
time a victim may spend in a shelter.  Post is aware of one 
victim remaining in a NGO-run shelter for more than five 
years.  See item 26.G. 
 
-- F. Does the government have a referral process to transfer 
victims detained, arrested or placed in protective custody by 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  012.3 OF 015 
 
 
law enforcement authorities to institutions that provide 
short- or long-term care (either government or NGO-run)? 
 
Yes, and this referral mechanism is used in practice.  See 
item 26.G. 
 
-- G. What is the total number of trafficking victims 
identified during the reporting period?  Of these, how many 
victims were referred to care facilities for assistance by 
law enforcement authorities during the reporting period?  By 
social services officials?  What is the number of victims 
assisted by government-funded assistance programs and those 
not funded by the government during the reporting period? 
 
The State Anti-Trafficking Coordinator's Office reports a 
total of 29 trafficking victims during the reporting period. 
During the reporting period, 22 victims received assistance 
in shelters.  All victims receiving assistance in shelters 
benefited from government funding.  All foreign victims were 
referred to shelters by the State Agency for Foreigners.  One 
domestic victim was referred by a law enforcement agency, 
while all remaining domestic victims were referred by the 
Centers for Social Welfare, in many cases at the 
recommendation of the OSCE. 
 
-- H. Do the government's law enforcement, immigration, and 
social services personnel have a formal system of proactively 
identifying victims of trafficking among high-risk persons 
with whom they come in contact (e.g., foreign persons 
arrested for prostitution or immigration violations)?  For 
countries with legalized prostitution, does the government 
have a mechanism for screening for trafficking victims among 
persons involved in the legal/regulated commercial sex trade? 
 
The government and NGOs have developed and signed a formal 
referral mechanism for screening, identifying and assisting 
foreign victims. Police and SBP officers use a screening 
questionnaire to assist them in evaluating victims. Alien 
Inspectors employed by the Ministry of Security have received 
formal training in victim identification procedures. The 
draft referral mechanism for domestic victims is awaiting 
final approval by the Council of Ministers.  During the 
reporting period, the government identified 29 victims of 
trafficking through the referral mechanism. 
 
-- I. Are the rights of victims respected?  Are trafficking 
victims detained or jailed?   If so, for how long?  Are 
victims fined?  Are victims prosecuted for violations of 
other laws, such as those governing immigration or 
prostitution? 
 
The rights of victims are respected.  If screening 
established that a person was a trafficking victim, the 
victim was taken to a shelter and authorities did not 
prosecute that person for immigration or prostitution 
violations, nor did authorities detain or jail victims.  The 
Law on Movement and Stay of Aliens provides for the granting 
of a temporary humanitarian visa to TIP victims. During the 
reporting period, the length of stay for a humanitarian visa 
was lengthened from three to six months. 
 
If a person is arrested or detained and subsequently 
identified as a trafficking victim, he or she receives 
shelter and related services and is eligible for protection 
from deportation and/or a humanitarian visa.  The BiH 
Criminal Procedure Code allows detention for up to six hours 
for questioning.  This limit is generally respected in 
practice. 
 
Police officials generally presume that detainees are TIP 
victims if there is any evidence to support this conclusion, 
and they are referred to shelters for additional evaluation. 
Bosnia's immigration detention facility is still under 
construction, though phase one of construction has been 
completed, and the shelter now has a capacity of 40 beds. 
However, in most cases, foreign victims were voluntarily 
repatriated.  Persons determined by law enforcement not to be 
trafficked victims can be subject to deportation and/or 
(occasionally) prosecution for immigration and other 
violations. 
 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  013.2 OF 015 
 
 
-- J. Does the government encourage victims to assist in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking?  How many 
victims assisted in the investigation and prosecution of 
traffickers during the reporting period? May victims file 
civil suits or seek legal action against traffickers?  Does 
anyone impede victim access to such legal redress?  If a 
victim is a material witness in a court case against a former 
employer, is the victim permitted to obtain other employment 
or to leave the country pending trial proceedings?  Are there 
means by which a victim may obtain restitution? 
 
The government encourages victim-witnesses to testify against 
their traffickers. At this time, about a quarter of victims 
actually testify. A number of prosecutors have worked 
extensively with victims to develop cases.  SIPA reports nine 
trafficking victims agreed to testify in court proceedings 
against traffickers.  However, there was no further 
information available on the number of victim witnesses 
assisting in other ways in the investigation and prosecution 
of traffickers during the reporting period, but there were 
victims who assisted these efforts. 
 
Victims can file civil suits against their traffickers for 
medical expenses, lost wages or pain and suffering and are 
encouraged to do.  Vasa Prava attorneys provide pro bono 
legal aid and shelter staff assist victims in filing these 
claims. Victims remaining in BiH on humanitarian visas or 
those who have applied for asylum are not permitted to work. 
Foreign victims can choose to be voluntarily repatriated at 
any time. There is currently no victim restitution program, 
although there is a victim's assistance fund supported by 
judgments against those convicted of trafficking. BiH is 
currently working to harmonize its immigration laws with EU 
standards. Legislation extending the humanitarian visa from 
three to six months was enacted during the reporting period. 
 
-- K. Does the government provide any specialized training 
for government officials in identifying trafficking victims 
and in the provision of assistance to trafficked victims, 
including the special needs of trafficked children?  Does the 
government provide training on protections and assistance to 
its embassies and consulates in foreign countries that are 
destination or transit countries?   What is the number of 
trafficking victims assisted by the host country's embassies 
or consulates abroad during the reporting period?  Please 
explain the type of assistance provided (travel documents, 
referrals to assistance, payment for transportation home). 
 
The government provides extensive training in the recognition 
of TIP victims and in how to assist them. The government 
continues to train prosecutors, judges, police officials, and 
social workers on TIP issues.  Specifically, the government 
has worked extensively with the local Centers for Social Work 
responsible for assisting domestic victims, particularly 
minors.  The government has also trained municipal court 
judges, who make guardianship and custody decisions about 
minor victims.  During the reporting period, the government 
continued to train its consular officials abroad to identify 
potential TIP victims applying for Bosnian visas. Officials 
at Bosnian embassies are encouraged to develop connections 
with local TIP NGOs, including La Strada and Catholic Relief 
Services (CRS), which are part of an international network. 
The MFA requires personal interviews for all visa applicants. 
 Bosnian participants in international peacekeeping missions 
also receive specialized TIP awareness training before 
deployment.  All members of incoming units to the EUFOR 
mission in Bosnia are required to attend a four-hour seminar 
on trafficking which stresses NATO's zero-tolerance policy 
for any involvement in TIP or prostitution.  There were no 
reliable estimates on the number of trafficking victims 
assisted by host country embassies or consulates, but this 
number was believed to be low since the majority of native 
Bosnian victims were trafficked within the country's borders. 
 
-- L. Does the government provide assistance, such as medical 
aid, shelter, or financial help, to its nationals who are 
repatriated as victims of trafficking? 
 
At this time, there are no specific government programs to 
assist its repatriated nationals, except those who are 
minors. However, repatriated TIP victims who identify 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  014.2 OF 015 
 
 
themselves and seek assistance can receive the same services 
from local NGOs that are provided to foreign victims. The 
care and custody of minors is the responsibility of the 
Centers for Social Work, who report to the entity Ministries 
of Social Welfare. One local NGO has started a pilot program 
to provide counseling and vocational training to repatriated 
Bosnian TIP victims.  There is also a program with the 
International Centre for Migration Policy Development, the 
Bosnian government and ten other nations on a South Eastern 
Europe Project that will develop a standardized mechanism and 
operating procedures for repatriation across borders. 
 
-- M. Which international organizations or NGOs, if any, work 
with trafficking victims?  What type of services do they 
provide?  What sort of cooperation do they receive from local 
authorities? 
 
The following international organizations work on a variety 
of antitrafficking efforts encompassing prevention, 
protection and prosecution: International Organization for 
Migration (IOM), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), CARE, Save 
The Children Norway, the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), USAID, Norwegian People's Aid, 
the Government of Italy, La Strada Network, and Emmaus 
International. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Paragraph 27: 
 
PREVENTION 
---------- 
 
-- A. Did the government conduct anti-trafficking information 
or education campaigns during the reporting period?  If so, 
briefly describe the campaign(s), including their objectives 
and effectiveness.  Please provide the number of people 
reached by such awareness efforts, if available.  Do these 
campaigns target potential trafficking victims and/or the 
demand for trafficking (e.g. "clients" of prostitutes or 
beneficiaries of forced labor)?  (Note: This can be an 
especially noteworthy effort where prostitution is legal. End 
Note.) 
 
The government continued antitrafficking education campaigns 
during the reporting period.  For part of the reporting 
period, the State Coordinator partnered with CRS to work on 
anti-trafficking education issues, with support from the U.S. 
Embassy.  In 2007, the government partnered with the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) to conduct a 
public campaign targeting both potential consumers and 
victims, including children between 12 and 19 years old.  The 
State Coordinator assisted in developing and approving 
educational materials for schoolchildren throughout BiH, in 
cooperation with USAID and the entity Ministries of 
Education.  Local NGOs also continued to work on public 
awareness campaigns targeting youth and the Romani community 
on a regional basis. 
 
-- B. Does the government monitor immigration and emigration 
patterns for evidence of trafficking?  Do law enforcement 
agencies screen for potential trafficking victims along 
borders? 
 
Yes the government of BiH, through the State Border Police, 
monitors immigration/emigration patterns for evidence of TIP. 
Virtually all SBP officers at border crossings and airports 
have received training on the detection and identification of 
potential TIP victims and screen for potential victims along 
the border.  Additionally, border crossings serve as an area 
for trafficking awareness programs, including posters at 
ports of entry to BiH.  The SBP shares their data on 
immigration and emigration at the Strike Force meetings.  The 
State Coordinator's mandate also includes alien smuggling and 
illegal immigration. 
 
During the reporting period, 55 persons were identified as 
victims of alien smuggling.  SIPA reports all these persons 
were intended to be smuggled to Western Europe.  23 were 
citizens of Albanian; 14 of Serbia; and nine of Turkey. 
During the reporting period, there were 57 reports on the 
criminal act of human smuggling (under article 189 of the BiH 
criminal code), involving 137 persons.  Six additional 
 
SARAJEVO 00000181  015.2 OF 015 
 
 
reports were submitted under article 250 of the criminal code 
of BiH (related to organized crime), involving 59 persons. 
These numbers represent a decrease in the total number of 
smuggling cases reported from past years (539 cases in 2007, 
and 331 in 2006).  The government, in addition to measures 
meant to strengthen antitrafficking programs, is also 
actively providing training programs to specifically counter 
the trend in alien smuggling which has links to trafficking 
in persons. 
 
-- C. Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication 
between various agencies, internal, international, and 
multilateral on trafficking-related matters, such as a 
multi-agency working group or a task force? 
 
The primary coordination and communication mechanisms are the 
TIP Strike Force, the State Coordinator's thematic working 
groups, and the larger TIP working group that includes NGO 
and IO representatives.  Generally, the State Coordinator's 
office is the point of contact for all these mechanisms.  The 
State Coordinator meets regularly with NGOs to share 
information and discuss anti-TIP activities.  The government 
does not have a public corruption task force.  During the 
reporting period, however, BiH adopted a National 
Anti-Corruption Strategy.  A portion of this strategy relates 
directly to the fight against public corruption.  SIPA also 
has units that focus on trafficking, organized crime and 
financial crimes, and the entity Police Standards Units 
(PSUs) investigate and file charges in cases of corruption or 
abuse of office by police personnel.  SIPA's newly-formed 
trafficking units have neared full staffing levels, and plan 
to eventually take over the coordination and communication 
work of the Strike Force, as envisioned by BiH government 
plans. 
 
-- D. Does the government have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons?  If the plan was developed 
during the reporting period, which agencies were involved in 
developing it?  Were NGOs consulted in the process?  What 
steps has the government taken to implement the action plan? 
 
In late 2007, the government drafted a new, five-year 
National Action Plan to cover 2008-2012 (the second such plan 
for BiH). The new plan clearly establishes operational 
measures and objectives in the areas of: systematic support, 
prevention, victim (and victim witness) protection and 
assistance, criminal prosecution and international 
cooperation. The plan also delineates the responsibilities of 
various institutions, including the government, NGO and 
international communities and establishes a time frame for 
implementation, sources of funding and indicators for 
success.  The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the 
Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Security, the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs, the State Border Police and the BiH State 
Prosecutor's Office helped to develop the Action Plan.  NGOs 
working on combating trafficking were also consulted during 
the drafting process and had an opportunity to provide input 
on the new plan. The new National Action Plan was published 
and distributed to all local antitrafficking NGOs and 
relevant government institutions along with the State 
Coordinator's 2007 TIP report for BiH. 
 
-- E. What measures has the government taken during the 
reporting period to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts? 
 
With the exception of public prevention campaigns (including 
the secondary school program) mentioned elsewhere in this 
submission, there are no specific programs targeting the 
demand for commercial sex acts.  BiH law enforcement agencies 
have consistently undertaken actions to police "night bars" 
and other suspected locations of illegal prostitution over 
the past several years. 
 
-- F. What measures has the government taken during the 
reporting period to reduce the participation in international 
child sex tourism by nationals of the country? 
 
Sex tourism has not been identified as a problem in BiH or by 
nationals of BiH. 
ENGLISH