Katrin Gluic

As a Chief Police Inspector with the Croatian Police, Katrin Gluic has prosecuted traffickers, assisted victims, and educated other law enforcement professionals.

Since 2012, Ms. Gluic has served with the National Police Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (PNUSKOK). As is common in Eastern Europe, all law enforcement activity related to trafficking comes out of the organized crime office. She has pushed for reform, and headed educational programs to help law enforcement in Croatia pursue and prevent the crime of human trafficking more effectively. Although she is an inspector in the police force, she has been incredibly active in providing victim support and services as well. She created cooperative groups that provide assistance to victims when they are initially rescued or returned to Croatia. These groups consist of NGO workers, Red Cross personnel, and specialized employees of the government. These groups are called to action immediately by the police force whenever trafficking is suspected, and have proved to be an effective system of providing initial support to victims of human trafficking.

Beyond her work in her own country, Ms. Gluic has been incredibly influential internationally by forging partnerships with various other law enforcement agencies around Europe. In the year of 2012, for example, she coordinated with surrounding governments, as well as the government of Spain, in order to bring down an international ring of human traffickers. The victims of this ring who came from Croatia were returned home, where Ms. Gluic had provided support for their re-integration, and to overcome the trauma they had withstood. In 2013, she was given the Trafficking in Persons Hero award for her work in Croatia. She continues in her role as a Chief Police Inspector in her office, and continues to provide much-needed support and services to those who have been brought out of modern-day slavery. In 2014, Croatia was listed as a Tier 2 country, but the Report noted that Croatia is making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.