Protection of adult victims of trafficking in human beings and the status of a particularly sensitive witness

Abstract

In addition to the introduction and conclusion, the paper consists of three logically related parts within which an analysis of certain international and national legal standards in the protection of victims of crime and particularly sensitive witnesses in criminal proceedings has been performed. A special subject of analysis were the national criminal law provisions regulating the protection of adult victims of the criminal offence of trafficking in human beings. Key problems and omissions in the protection of these witnesses were identified, as well as suggestions for overcoming them. In its conclusion, the paper underlines that particularly sensitive witnesses are not always provided protection in accordance with minimum international standards, and the reasons can be found in the impossibility of providing technical conditions, insensibility of acting officers, as well as an inadequate assessment by the authorities in charge of applying certain elements of criminal law protection.