Skopje, 29 November 2021 (MIA) – Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jagoda Shahpaska held a meeting on Monday with Swedish Ambassador to North Macedonia, Kristin Forsgren Bengtsson. She presented during the meeting the Ministry’s activities in regard to prevention and protection of human trafficking victims, especially women and children. Interlocutors, the Labor Ministry said in a press release, also talked about the equal opportunities sector, which has allowed the Ministry to play the role of coordinator of the national mechanism for human trafficking victims, which represents a framework for cooperation and coordinated approach of social services, police, labor inspectorates and NGOs. The release also stressed the importance of social work centers and experts who are part of mobile teams in charge of early detection of human trafficking. “Mobile human trafficking prevention teams set positive example and have been embraced by other countries in region. North Macedonia currently has five such teams, made up of Labor Ministry, Interior Ministry and Health Ministry representatives, as well as ones from NGOs. They operate in Tetovo, Gostivar, Kumanovo, Bitola and Gevgelija. We intend to set up more such teams across the country, as they have shown incredible results in timely identification and prevention of human trafficking,” Shahpaska said. The Ambassador informed the Minister of the human trafficking situation and measures in Sweden, underlining that some of the recent activities of the Swedish governments are directed towards North Macedonia. She announced that efforts against human trafficking in the region, including North Macedonia, will resume. On Monday, the Swedish Ambassador visited the Skopje-based shelter for human trafficking victims.