UN reveals organized child trafficking networks in South Eastern Europe

Crime Diary, Europe-Asia, International

INTERNATIONAL, 12 April 2026 (NPA) — The United Nations has raised alarm over the growing exploitation of children in South Eastern Europe, citing harrowing cases of forced begging, sexual abuse, and coerced labour. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that children now account for nearly a quarter of all detected trafficking victims in the region, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action.

Recent cases illustrate the scale of the crisis: in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a married couple forced their four children to beg daily for over a year; in Slovenia, a father sold his teenage daughter into an abusive marriage; and in North Macedonia, a 12‑year‑old girl was forced to drink alcohol, dance in bars, and endure sexual exploitation. “These cases illustrate how children, including migrants and refugees, are being cruelly exploited by human traffickers,” said Davor Raus, a UNODC crime prevention expert.

At a regional meeting in Skopje, more than 60 anti‑trafficking specialists from 20 countries discussed strategies to combat organized crime networks. Romanian prosecutor Dan Alexandru Popa warned that traffickers are increasingly sophisticated, citing an ongoing trial of 14 defendants accused of exploiting German teenagers under the guise of rehabilitation programmes in Romania. The group allegedly abused minors while misappropriating state funds meant for their welfare.

Links between migrant smuggling and trafficking were also highlighted. In Bosnia, two Afghan nationals stand accused of luring unaccompanied children from refugee camps with false promises of free passage into the EU, only to subject them to forced criminality and sexual exploitation.

Experts stressed the devastating impact of trafficking on child victims, including long‑term trauma, mental health issues, and disrupted education. “The impact on children is magnified due to their vulnerability and dependency on caregivers, who in some cases are the exploiters,” said Stojne Atanasovska Dimishkovska, UNODC’s National Programme Officer in North Macedonia.

The meeting, co‑organized by France’s Permanent Mission to the UN, concluded with calls for stronger victim protection, compensation, and efforts to dismantle cultural prejudices that enable practices such as forced marriage and begging. “Traffickers are becoming more professional and organized,” said French expert Elodie Goyard, urging immediate and lasting safeguards to prevent revictimization.

The UN stressed that tackling child trafficking requires sustained international cooperation, robust prosecution of perpetrators, and comprehensive support for victims to rebuild their lives.