Together for her: Community-based protection and empowerment

Comprehensive support for migrant and refugee women in Serbia

NGO Atina has launched a new project, “Together for her: Community-based protection and empowerment - Comprehensive support for migrant and refugee women,” implemented from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026, with the support of Switzerland. The project aims to strengthen the protection, recovery, and long-term inclusion of migrant and refugee women and girls in Serbia who have survived or are at risk of human trafficking, gender-based violence, and labor exploitation.

The project responds to the increasingly complex risks faced by women on the move in Serbia, including insecure legal status, economic dependency, exposure to violence and exploitation, and limited access to protection systems. Migrant women workers, asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented women are among the most affected, often remaining invisible to formal support mechanisms.

Building on over 23 years of Atina’s survivor-centered work, “Together for Her” combines direct assistance, economic empowerment, community-based protection, and advocacy to address both immediate needs and the structural drivers of exploitation. The project will directly support at least 50 migrant and refugee women and girls who have experienced or are at risk of: human trafficking and labor exploitation, gender-based and sexual violence, severe social exclusion and poverty, legal insecurity related to residence status, work permits, and access to rights. In addition, at least 50 secondary beneficiaries, children and family members, will benefit indirectly, recognizing that recovery and protection are inseparable from family and community contexts.

Comprehensive, trauma-informed support

At the core of the project is individualized, long-term case management, delivered through a trauma-informed, gender-sensitive, and rights-based approach. Women supported through the project receive coordinated assistance, which may include: psychological counseling and psychosocial support; assistance with legal status and documentation; access to healthcare, education, and social protection services; crisis intervention and safety planning; and material assistance and emergency support when needed. Rather than short-term interventions, the project prioritizes continuity of care, trust-building, and women’s active participation in decisions affecting their lives.

Economic empowerment as a key protection mechanism

Recognizing that economic dependence is one of the strongest drivers of exploitation and re-trafficking, Together for Her places strong emphasis on economic empowerment. Through the project, at least 20 migrant women will gain access to: vocational training and skills development; practical work experience and post-training employment support; training through Atina’s social enterprise, Bagel Bejgl; connections with employers and local economic initiatives committed to fair and dignified work. By strengthening women’s access to income and employment, the project directly supports independence, safety, and sustainable social inclusion.

Strengthening community-based and institutional protection

In parallel with direct support, the project strengthens institutional and community protection mechanisms across Serbia. Activities include: capacity building for at least 100 professionals, including social workers, police officers, prosecutors, and civil society actors, improving coordination and referral pathways between institutions and NGOs, outreach activities in Asylum and Transit Centers in Obrenovac and Bujanovac, as well as in local communities, and early identification and response to risks of exploitation among migrant women workers.

Through outreach and field activities, the project will reach at least 150 migrant and refugee women and girls, strengthening prevention and early protection.

A key component of Together for Her is advocacy for systemic change. The project actively supports migrant women's participation in advocacy, policy discussions, and public dialogue on migration, labor rights, violence prevention, and protection systems.

Women with lived experience are recognized not only as beneficiaries but also as knowledge holders and agents of change, whose insights are essential to developing effective and just policies.

Project activities are implemented across Serbia, with a territorial focus on areas with high concentrations of migrant and refugee populations, active migration routes, and increased risks of exploitation. This approach strengthens local protection networks and ensures responses are grounded in real community needs.

This news piece was produced within the project “Together for Her: Community-Based Protection and Empowerment - Comprehensive Support for Migrant and Refugee Women,” implemented with the support of Switzerland. Atina bears sole responsibility for the content, which does not necessarily reflect the official views of Switzerland.