SLOVENIA (Tier 1)

Slovenia is a transit and destination country, and to a lesser extent, a source country for women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced prostitution and men in forced labor. Women and children from Slovenia, as well as Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, and Iran are subjected to forced prostitution in Slovenia and also transited though Slovenia to Western Europe – primarily to Italy and Germany – for the same purpose. Men, women, and children from Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, and Romania are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Slovenia and also in Italy and Germany after migrating through Slovenia.

The Government of Slovenia fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government increased funding allocated for victim assistance and maintained adequate prevention efforts, including continued efforts to raise awareness about trafficking among populations vulnerable to trafficking, such as asylum-seekers. The government also ensured that all convicted traffickers served some time in prison.

Recommendations for Slovenia: Vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses, and convict and punish trafficking offenders, including those involved in forced labor; increase efforts to identify victims of both sex and labor trafficking; increase the number of victims referred for assistance; continue to ensure that a majority of convicted traffickers serve some time in prison; continue to provide trafficking awareness training for judges and prosecutors; and continue efforts to raise awareness of forced labor and forced prostitution among the general public.

Prosecution
The Government of Slovenia demonstrated some anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts in 2009. The government prohibits all forms of trafficking in persons through Article 113 of its criminal code, which prescribes penalties ranging from six months to 15 years’ imprisonment. These penalties are sufficiently stringent and commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. The government conducted 28 trafficking investigations in 2009, compared with seven in 2008. Authorities prosecuted four cases in 2009, compared with eight cases in 2008. Two trafficking offenders were convicted in 2009, down from six convictions in 2008. One convicted offender was sentenced to 38 months’ imprisonment and the other offender was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, compared with 2008 when four convicted offenders were given sentences ranging from nine to 48 months’ imprisonment. The Ministry of Justice provided trafficking training for approximately 150 judges and prosecutors on the appropriate application of Article 113 of the penal code during the reporting period. Law enforcement officials in Slovenia partnered with regional counterparts from Moldova, Italy, Croatia, and Hungary during several trafficking investigations.

Protection
The Government of Slovenia demonstrated adequate efforts to identify and refer victims for assistance and increased the amount of funding allocated for victim services during the reporting period. The government continued to provide funding to two NGOs to provide both short-term and extended victim assistance, including shelter, rehabilitative counseling, medical assistance, vocational training, and legal assistance. The government allocated $120,000 for this assistance in 2009, an increase from $95,000 provided for victim assistance in 2008. Authorities identified 29 victims during the last year, a decrease from 65 victims identified in 2008. In 2008, authorities identified an unusually high number of victims of trafficking, resulting from the discovery of several large-scale trafficking cases. During the reporting period, government officials referred 23 victims for assistance, compared with 70 potential victims referred for assistance in 2008. Twelve victims were provided with assistance by government-funded NGOs, a decrease from 38 victims in 2008. After their identification, victims were granted a 90-day reflection period during which they were eligible to receive assistance and decide whether or not to cooperate with law enforcement. Victims were encouraged to participate in trafficking investigations and prosecutions of trafficking offenders; twelve victims assisted law enforcement in 2009, compared with nine victims in 2008. Foreign victims who assisted law enforcement could apply for a temporary residence permit and remain in Slovenia for the duration of the trial and may choose to stay longer if they are employed or in school; one foreign victim applied for a temporary residency permit during the reporting period. There were no identified victims punished for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Prevention
The government sustained its prevention efforts from the previous reporting period. The Ministry of Interior, UNHCR, and local NGOs sustained partnerships to administer a project that provided information about trafficking and gender-based violence to asylum seekers. The government provided approximately $12,700 for NGOs to conduct this campaign, which included the distribution of fliers at community centers, embassies, and at public events as well as public service announcements on the radio and Internet. The government continued its efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts by allocating funding to NGOs to print brochures and conduct lectures targeting potential current and future clients of prostitution.