Why is this work important?

People trafficking for sexual exploitation is a serious problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Traffickers target the most vulnerable, often young women with limited education, high economic need and those experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

Trafficking has a devastating effect on the individuals involved including immediate and long term sexual and reproductive health problems.

"Victims are in a terrible state when they come to the shelter. We have cases of permanently damaged health due to the unprofessionally done abortions, sexual diseases…." Lara, a non-governmental organization.

"Access to sexual and reproductive health and rights means that a person can maintain, look after and protect its own health. It is also the right of a woman to decide about her own body, to freely decide whether she wants to have sexual relations, whether she is willing to have protection during sexual intercourse, if she wants to conceive a child, or to give birth…[the] Position of trafficking victims excludes [the] possibility for them to have access to their sexual and reproductive health and rights. It is only the degree of violation of these rights that differs one victim from another."

Despite active programmes in Bosnia and Herzegovina to address trafficking, issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights have not been systematically included in policy, information or services.

What is innovative about this project?

This is the first systematic attempt in the country to address the links between trafficking and sexual and reproductive health and rights, at each stage in the trafficking cycle.

Vulnerable young people are being empowered to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights and reduce their risk of being trafficked.

Association XY and partners are making it easier for trafficked women to use quality sexual and reproductive health information and services.

The project is advocating for the integration of sexual and reproductive health into local and national trafficking policies, services and budgets. 

How is the strategy working?

By developing a peer education module covering gender, trafficking and sexual and reproductive health and rights, Association XY has provided a unique resource to engage vulnerable young people including orphans and those from Roma communities.

Trainers found that young people were often well aware of trafficking issues but they needed the right opportunity to discuss them, relate them to everyday situations and to dispel misconceptions.

Raising these issues has also increased the number of young people coming to Association XY’s clinics to use the sexual and reproductive health services available.

Confidentiality, privacy and sensitive service providers are all critical to providing quality sexual and reproductive health information and services to trafficked women.

Association XY have established partnerships with shelters to provide services directly and to train shelter and partner staff.

Association XY is networking with partners to build support for addressing sexual and reproductive rights as an integral part of trafficking initiatives. As a result, the Office of the State Coordinator for combating trafficking has included these issues in their action plan 2008-2012.

Outstanding achievements

By demonstrating the links between sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender and trafficking, XY convinced the Federal Ministry of Health that specific guidelines were needed for health workers and institutions that work with trafficked women.

The Association secured additional funding to lead a working group that has developed and tested the guidelines.

For the first time, this process included not only doctors but also nurses and medical technicians, acknowledging that they too have a role in identifying and supporting trafficked women.

The guidelines highlight the specific health needs of trafficked women and are designed to strengthen the collaboration between health services and other support services, for example shelters. They are now set to become the reference for all health institutions and professionals in the country.

What next?

In 2009, Association XY is continuing to promote and adapt its peer education module on gender, trafficking and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Building on the success of this with young people, XY has also identified a demand for information on these issues among teachers and parents. Project staff are now working to develop activities to work directly with them.

Want to find out more?
Contact
innovation@ippf.org
IPPF European Network
Association for Sexual and Reproductive Health XY