In October Moscow hosted the international conference titled Current system of international humanitarian aid: the best practices and challenges. Marijana Savic, Director of NGO Atina participated in the conference to share our experiences related to the work with women and girls refugees and migrants, as well as our attitude about the importance of gender sensitive approach in humanitarian work. The conference was organized by Moscow State University for Foreign Affairs (MGIMO) and Oxfam-Moscow with the aim to advance knowledge related to the mechanisms of humanitarian assistance.

SCHOOLBOYS have been stripped naked, posed for pornography and threatened with the images being plastered across the internet as sick smuggling gangs find new ways to make millions from the migrant crisis.

Children have fled war only to be raped, used as mules and violently attacked

Marijana Savić is a directress of NGO Atina, who has been dedicated to fight against human trafficking and protection of human rights for more than 16 years now. In 2015, they received With and For Girls Award, which is awarded to the most prominent fighters for women’s rights across the globe, as well as the American Global Catalyst award. Through various actions and projects, Marijana provides assistance and support to girls and women, victims of violence and human trafficking.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic has thanked the Duchess of Cornwall for taking the time to visit one of the projects supported by his foundation.

The world number one player took time out of his busy schedule to record a video message for the Duchess which was played when she visited the Zvecanska Centre in Belgrade, Serbia.

Camilla was at the centre as part of a six-day tour of the Balkans with the Prince of Wales, and she met representatives of Unicef and the Djokovic Foundation who have been providing family outreach workers.

Human trafficking, violence against women and position of women refugees are not subjects easy to talk about or advocate for as they raise many uncomfortable issues about societal inequalities and injustice. NGO Atina has obtained an unexpected ally in advocating for resolution of these problems in our society, but globally as well. We had opportunity to meet Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall who actively advocates for the rights of women who have survived violence since 2009, when she visited the center for women rape victims and learned about their lives. 

In the last few days I have met a new phalanx of Heroes. Traveling through Serbia with the International Rescue Committee, we followed the refugee route from Presevo (Macedonian border) to Belgrade and up to Sid (Croatian border). Along the way I met with the partners of the IRC aid network - in my experience with international aid (which is admittedly neither unbiased nor vast) a new paradigm has evolved in Serbia due partly to the ingenuity of the IRC leadership teams and partly due to Serbia's unique history.

Women in Serbia share their stories about helping refugees as many recall being displaced themselves.

Marija Cvejic - 'Sometimes you can help, sometimes you can't'

Belgrade - At the initiative of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, German foundations in Belgrade have, with the support of German Friendship Association, collected 1,500 euros and today this donation was handed over to NGO “Atina”, and is intended for the care of migrants and refugees in Belgrade.

Head of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation office in Belgrade, Norbert Beckmann-Dierkes, said that at the moment the policy toward refugees in Europe is in “turbulent phase”.

Speaking about human trafficking is somehow surreal. It feels like talking about horror movies, but it is a sad reality for thousands of people. According to a UN report published last year, from 2010 and 2012, 510 human trafficking routes around the world and victims from 152 countries were detected.