All for Fair Trials notes that human trafficking is a severe human rights violation that has been going on in Macedonia at least ten years, with the worst period being during the 2001-2003 conflict. Their report follows three years of court observation in organized crime cases. The majority of trafficking cases concerned women who had been trafficked for sexual exploitation, and so were prosecuted under the crimes of “mediation in prostitution,” “trafficking in human beings,” or “smuggling of migrants.”

Although the reported numbers of trafficking cases has decreased, All for Fair Trials says trafficking incidences remain the same, and only the form of the crime has changed. In relation to organized crime in particular, the report notes that many cases now involve three or more perpetrators and repeat offenders. There are problems securing witnesses for trial. The report also discusses the laws behind these crimes, characteristics of Macedonian organized crime groups, efforts to combat trafficking, victims, case duration and sanctions.

For the full text of this report, please click here (PDF, 124 pages).

Compiled from: Violeta Velkoska, Efficiency of the Courts When Dealing with Organized Crime Cases Year 2005, 2006, 2007, Coalition “All for Fair Trials” for Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje (OSCE-Skopje) (February 2008) (PDF, 124 pages).