THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM IN THE PREVENTION AND EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF CHILD TRAFFICKING IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the role of the social welfare system in the prevention and early identification of child trafficking, based on the premise that children who are users of social welfare services are at an increased risk of victimisation. The study employs an analytical approach grounded in a systematic analysis of socio-economic and family factors whose presence has been empirically confirmed in cases of human trafficking, while simultaneously considering the adequacy of the indicator list for the preliminary identification of child victims used within the social welfare system in the Republic of Serbia. Conceptual analysis of the list shows that the indicators are empirically grounded and largely adapted to the phenomenon of human trafficking, enabling the recognition of different types of traffickers, recruitment methods and forms of child exploitation. One of the key shortcomings identified is the absence of indicators related to children’s mental health, as well as those pointing to their recruitment and exploitation in online environments.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22190/TEME260206031T
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