ATINA – Citizens’ Association for the fight against human trafficking and all forms of violence against women

Strong Alone, Unstoppable Together: Sport for Social Justice

Through sport, education, and activism, Atina empowers marginalized youth in Serbia to build solidarity, prevent human trafficking and violence, and become leaders for social justice.

Through sport, education, and activism, Atina empowers marginalized youth in Serbia to build solidarity, prevent human trafficking and violence, and become leaders for social justice.

In Serbia, deep ethnic divisions and widespread social inequality, affect young people from marginalized communities – including minorities, migrants, and refugees. These groups often face exclusion, limited opportunities to participate in society, and a lack of safe public spaces. The absence of inclusive initiatives that bridge ethnic and social divides reinforces stereotypes, increases fragmentation, and increases the risk of gender-based violence and human trafficking. Sport has proven to be a powerful tool for challenging these harmful norms and creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people can connect and thrive. 

Through this project, ATINA – Citizens’ Association for the Fight Against Human Trafficking and All Forms of Violence Against Women is working to build solidarity among marginalized youths from marginalized communities in Serbia and raise their awareness about gender-based violence and trafficking. 

What does the project involve?

• Workshops for young leaders on topics such as discrimination, gender stereotypes in sports, conflict resolution, leadership, and equality.
• Youth-led sports tournaments (e.g. futsal, basketball, volleyball) combined with workshops on equality, human rights, and trafficking. Participants come from diverse backgrounds to break down stereotypes and build social cohesion.
• Development of training modules for sports coaches, covering topics like consent, boundaries, and healthy masculinity. These modules are integrated into sports activities and scaled through a “train-the-trainer” model.
• Awareness campaigns led by young people, using social media, murals, and school-based information points to raise awareness about gender-based violence and trafficking. Some campaigns are run alongside tournaments to boost engagement.

Why is the project funded?

Engaging marginalized youth in inclusive, community-based activities helps build social bonds, reduce exclusion, and lower the risk of gender-based violence and trafficking. The project contributes to a safe society and social sustainability, delivering clear public value for the society.