SARAJEVO, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- On European Anti-Trafficking Day, the Association Faros, a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), issued a warning about the heightened risk of human trafficking faced by individuals without legal residence, particularly those from marginalized communities such as the Roma.
Faros highlighted that vulnerable groups include foreign nationals from neighboring countries, many of whom struggle to obtain legal status. The most affected are young women and mothers with children, the NGO noted on Friday.
Mirsada Bajramovic, director of the NGO "Land of Children in BiH," explained that organized criminal groups often exploit those lacking legal permits.
Ingrid Halbritter, Association Faros project coordinator, emphasized that these individuals are often deprived of access to formal employment, healthcare, and social services, rendering them "legally invisible."
The NGOs stressed that people without legal status should be recognized as victims in need of protection, rather than being treated as offenders. ■