Behind Human Trafficking in Macedonia: A 24-Year Mission with Open Gate

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Marija Todorovska from Open Gate La Strada, North Macedonia, is our guest on the 4th episode of our podcast series. Marija is a leader in the fight against human trafficking. She has set up helplines, shelters, and advocates for the rights of victims. She also works as a consultant and trainer, sharing her knowledge on human rights, gender-based violence, and refugee protection.

In this episode, we talk about Open Gate's 24 years of work to protect victims of human trafficking and prevent it from happening. Over these years, the NGO has made great progress, but they still face many challenges. For example, after 10 years of constant advocacy, Macedonia passed a law in 2022 to compensate victims of crime, including those affected by human trafficking.

Open Gate established a shelter for trafficking victims in 2005, and it now operates in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. The shelter is expanding, and they hope to provide separate spaces for children, as well as support for male victims.

Marija shared some alarming facts about human trafficking. Of the victims they have helped, 60% are children aged 10 to 17, and sadly, this age is dropping each year. Even more troubling, 40% of the traffickers are family members or people known to the victims. The typical victim is a girl, often from marginalized communities like the Roma population.

Despite the challenges, Marija and her team are committed to their work. Not long ago, a woman who had been part of their program in 2009 returned to offer her help. Now living a happy life, she is a powerful reminder of the impact of Open Gate's work and why it must continue.