Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton: Minor victims are safe, disclosing identity and protected information is a criminal offense

(Patria) - The Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton announced that the minor girls, victims of human trafficking from the recent case that shocked the public, have been taken care of and are in a safe place under institutional and professional protection.

The identity of the girls, the circumstances and information about their place of residence are protected information, and any disclosure, transmission or insinuation thereof constitutes a serious violation of the law and children's rights.

"Publishing such details constitutes the criminal offense of 'Violation of child privacy' under Article 219a of the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina," stated the spokesperson of the Tuzla Canton Prosecutor's Office, Admir Arnautović.

The Prosecutor's Office specifically warned social media users, individuals and the media to refrain from posts that could reveal the identity of the victims.

Such conduct, as they state, in addition to being a criminal offense, also constitutes a gross violation of international and domestic norms, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Law on the Protection and Treatment of Children and Minors in Criminal Proceedings of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Law on the Protection of Personal Data of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From the Tuzla Canton Prosecutor's Office, they state that the investigation in this case is being conducted intensively and with the highest degree of seriousness, in cooperation with the Criminal Police Sector of the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Interior, as well as expert services and individuals.

"The protection of minor victims is the absolute focus in all phases of the proceedings," they emphasize from the Prosecutor's Office.