On 21-22 November 2016, the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Division organised a meeting of specialised lawyers and NGOs providing legal assistance to victims of trafficking in human beings, in Strasbourg. The meeting brought together 37 participants from 21 States Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. ASTRA’s representative was lawyer Violeta Kočić Mitiček.
Lawyers and NGO’s representative had an opportunity ti discuss about providing legal assistance to the victims of human trafficking in different stages (identification as a victim of trafficking, access to assistance and residence permits, asylum procedure, court proceedings, compensation claims, application of the non-punishment provision).
Moreover, participants made concrete proposals for improving access to justice for trafficked persons, including by setting up a European network of trafficking victim lawyers which would enable the exchange of information on case law and legal strategies, support training, encourage strategic litigation and facilitate co-operation in transnational cases.