CARE Balkans expresses deep concern and strong condemnation regarding the case of sexual exploitation of minors in Tuzla Canton. As officially confirmed by the Prosecutor’s Office of Tuzla Canton, two girls born in 2009 have been identified as victims of a group of eight suspects who are being charged with the criminal offence of human trafficking, specifically child sexual exploitation and prostitution.

This case, which has deeply shocked the public, once again highlights the serious and persistent weaknesses in the child protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When institutions entrusted with the safety and care of the most vulnerable fail in their fundamental responsibilities, the consequences are devastating, both for the victims and for public trust in state institutions.

CARE Balkans calls on all competent authorities to ensure a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation, and to establish responsibility at all levels, individual and institutional. Any abuse of power, particularly in cases involving children, requires a decisive and transparent institutional response.

At the same time, it is essential to take concrete measures to strengthen the child protection system, including more effective oversight of social welfare services, continuous training of professionals working with children, and the development of mechanisms for early detection, prevention, and response to abuse and exploitation.

CARE International Balkans, with the support of the European Union and other donors, continuously works with young people to prevent human trafficking, including practices such as child and early marriage, and recognizes that much more needs to be done to strengthen awareness, prevention, and protection mechanisms across the region.

CARE Balkans expresses full solidarity with the victims and reminds that every child has the right to safety, dignity, and protection from all forms of violence and exploitation. This case must serve as a call for decisive institutional action and the restoration of public trust in the system designed to protect the most vulnerable.