Open Gate and Terre des hommes – Kosovo, organized and the second cross-border meeting between North Macedonia and Kosovo aimed at transnational cooperation between the countries for the identification and assistance of victims of human trafficking, with a focus of children, through unified standard operating procedures (USOP).

Representatives from the office of the national coordinator of North Macedonia and Kosovo, representatives from the police and special units against human trafficking and illegal migration, border police, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM/CSR), the Center for Victims of Human Trafficking, and non-governmental organizations actively participated on this event.

During the meeting was discussed the following:

Strengthening of institutional efforts in dealing with human trafficking, including formal and early identification of victims of human trafficking,

Provide protection and assistance to victims,

Joint cooperation for specific cases between the countries participating in the meeting,

Implementation of the unified standard operating procedures (USOP) and

The role of contact points and identifying challenges.

The representatives from Kosovo had the opportunity to visit the Center for victims of human trafficking in North Macedonia and to familiarize themselves with the way of functioning and the services provided.

Meetings of this type constantly lead toward strengthen cooperation between institutions and non-governmental organizations, which are partners with the same goal, suppression, and prevention of human trafficking.

This activity was carried out as part of the project “Improving the provision of services and awareness of the fight against human trafficking in the Balkans, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo”, funded by the US State Department through the J/TiP program.