U.S. Department of State 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report - Slovenia

Slovenia (Tier 2)

Slovenia is primarily a transit, and secondarily a destination, country for women and teenage girls trafficked from Southeastern, Eastern, and Central Europe to Western Europe, the United States, and Canada. Slovenia is also a country of origin for a small number of women and teenaged girls trafficked to Western Europe.

The Government of Slovenia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government showed a strong preventive approach, and improved law enforcement response in the past year.

Prevention

The Government of Slovenia increased public awareness through programs to sensitize potential victims through distribution of leaflets about trafficking both at embassies and consulates for visa recipients within vulnerable categories, and for middle and high school-aged girls regarding recruitment methods. The government also funded a mass-media information campaign on trafficking and domestic violence. Members of the Interdepartmental Working Group participated in radio interviews, panel discussions, and arranged the TV airing of a video on trafficking victims. The government adequately monitors its borders; however, valid work permits are often misused to facilitate trafficking.

Prosecution

Slovenia lacks a law specifically prohibiting trafficking, although such legislation is pending. In the meantime, the government continues to investigate and prosecute traffickers under pimping, procurement of sexual acts, inducement into prostitution, rape, sexual assault, bringing a person into slavery or similar conditions, or the transportation of slaves. The Inter-Departmental Working Group for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings reports that in 2002 police made 55 trafficking-related arrests and prosecutors initiated 21 prosecutions, involving 28 victims, 15 of whom are considered victims of enslavement. During the reporting period, a special task force of prosecutors was established to handle trafficking cases. During the past year the government put into practice a nation-wide Standard Operating Procedure for handling potential trafficking cases which requires police officers to direct suspected trafficking cases to a centralized office in the criminal police directorate that specializes in such crimes. The government has an independent anti-corruption office and it has participated in the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings and other regional anti-trafficking efforts.

Protection

An adequate and sustainable system of shelter and protection for victims and witnesses has not yet been fully established. Many victims trafficked to Slovenia enter legally and carry work permits as "artistic dancers" and are therefore not under threat of deportation. Those who lose the protection of the permit and who are subject to deportation may be referred to a new NGO shelter, or to a detention facility for illegal migrants awaiting deportation. The government funds NGOS working on trafficking-related issues. In particular, the government works closely with one Slovenian NGO which offers reintegration services to Slovenian victims as well as counseling, legal support, and shelter to all victims. Victims who wish to return to their home country are referred to the local IOM office, while those requesting asylum are referred to the government's immigration officials and UNHCR.