'Recognize, React, Protect': Joint Action of Institutions for the Well-being and Safety of Students

(Patria) - Within the framework of the Action Plan of the Sarajevo Canton Government on combating human trafficking, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Interior - Police Directorate, are implementing the campaign "Recognize, React, Protect," aimed at raising awareness about risks and protection mechanisms for children and youth, their parents, and educational workers.

The campaign includes teacher training, parental counseling, and workshops for ninth-grade primary school students and final-year secondary school students, with the participation of expert teams of pedagogues, psychologists, and police officers. During November, activities are being carried out in 11 primary and secondary schools in Sarajevo Canton, and in the coming period they will be expanded to other schools.

Activities aimed at combating the criminal offense of human trafficking have been initiated by the Ministry of Education since 2022, and during the school year, three classes on this topic are conducted with students of all ages.

As part of the campaign, trainings were held at the Secondary Electrotechnical School in Sarajevo, which were visited by the Minister of Education of Sarajevo Canton Naida Hota-Muminović, the Minister of Interior Admir Katica, and police officers from the Police Directorate of the MUP KS.

Minister Hota-Muminović emphasized that the prevention of all risks threatening children and youth, including human trafficking, violence, and other forms of exploitation, is a permanent task of the education system.

"School is a place where children learn how to recognize risk, protect themselves, and seek help. Education is our most powerful tool in the fight against human trafficking and other forms of threats to children. That is why it is important that we act together in this process: students, parents, teachers, professional associates, police officers, and educational institutions. Only through joint action do we build an environment where children grow up safe and protected," said Minister Hota-Muminović.

Minister Katica emphasized that the fight against human trafficking in Sarajevo Canton is based on coordinated work of institutions and a clear action framework implemented by the Coordination Team for Combating Human Trafficking of Sarajevo Canton.

"Education on the types and forms of human trafficking is one of the measures in which our ministry actively participates. This form of prevention, by entering schools and providing concrete examples and advice to students, teachers, and parents, can best prepare and protect them. The police, as always, are a partner to every institution, especially educational institutions, in preventive-educational activities," said Minister Katica.

The trainings and workshops within the campaign "Recognize, React, Protect" are part of a broader multisectoral approach of the Sarajevo Canton Government, which connects educational, security, and expert institutions in joint work on preventing violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.

These activities confirm the commitment of the Sarajevo Canton Government to ensure that schools are safe places for learning, trust, and support, and that through continuous action, awareness of the protection of children and youth in all spheres of their upbringing is strengthened.