VZCZCXRO6847
PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSL #0160/01 0600701
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010701Z MAR 06 ZDK ALL CTG NUMEROUS
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9571
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0045

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 BRATISLAVA 000160 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, G/TIP MHALL, EUR/PGI JBUCKNEBERG, G, INL, 
DRL, PRM, AND IWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KCRM PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG KFRD PREF ASEC
LO 
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA ANNUAL REPORT ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
 
REF: (A) STATE 3836 
 
     (B) BRATISLAVA 0043 
     (C) 05 BRATISLAVA 0903 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  001.7 OF 010 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (U)  Embassy TIP Point of Contact: 
 
Name: Richard "Trey" Lyons 
Position: Political Officer 
Phone: 00421 2 5922 3210 
Fax: 00421 2 5922 3109 
E-mail: LyonsRN@state.gov 
 
¶2. (SBU) OVERVIEW OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶A.  A COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND TRANSIT 
 
Slovakia is considered a transit country for trafficking in 
persons and, to a more limited degree, a source country. 
The International Office for Migration (IOM) states that due 
to the small number of known victims who are third country 
nationals or those trafficked only within Slovak borders, 
the country cannot be classified as a destination country, 
though IOM and the government both admit that some women may 
be forced to work briefly in Slovakia while in transit to 
their final destinations in western Europe.  The Ministry of 
Interior (MOI) maintains official statistics regarding 
investigations; the General Prosecutor's office maintains 
statistics regarding investigations, prosecutions, and 
convictions. 
 
During the reporting period, NGOs dealt with 24 repatriated 
victims of trafficking; Slovakia also showed an increase in 
the numbers of investigations of suspected traffickers, and 
the number of those charged.  Based on the fact that NGOs 
and authorities deal only with those who identify themselves 
to the police and the underreported nature of the crime, the 
IOM estimates between 100 to 200 individuals are trafficked 
per year.  IOM has conducted two extensive studies on the 
trafficking problem in Slovakia and considers its estimates 
reliable.  One Slovak NGO near the Czech border worked with 
12 returned victims, the majority of which were Roma. 
Shelters concede that their workers are only in contact with 
a fraction of the victims of trafficking.  Most trafficking 
cases involve young women from regions in Slovakia with high 
unemployment.  Experts allege Roma women and individuals 
raised in state orphanages, due to their low socio-economic 
status and less freedom of mobility, are more vulnerable to 
being trafficked by organized criminal gangs or 
acquaintances. 
 
¶B.  SLOVAKIA PICKS UP MOMENTUM AGAINST TIP 
 
In April 2005, the Slovak Republic created a national 
coordinating expert working group on trafficking in persons, 
including members from the Ministries of Interior, Foreign 
Affairs, Justice, Labor and Social Affairs, Finance, 
Education, as well as the police Anti-Trafficking Unit, IOM, 
an NGO, the Plenipotentiary for Roma Affairs, and the Office 
of the Government (Prime Minister and Deputy Prime 
Minister).  The group met monthly until the former Minister 
of the Interior nominated a National Coordinator for the 
Fight Against Trafficking in Persons on October 1; the 
National Coordinator in turn asked the working group to 
continue to meet monthly.  There are currently no plans to 
discontinue the working group. 
 
The National Coordinator drafted a National Action Plan in 
December in cooperation with the expert working group, and 
the Slovak cabinet approved the Action Plan on January 11. 
The Action Plan provides for an increased network of victims 
support services, increased awareness and education 
campaigns for high school aged students and police officers, 
and the creation of formal victim assistance and referral 
protocols both within Slovakia as well as for Slovak victims 
identified abroad (refs B, C). 
 
According to the General Prosecutor's office and IOM, most 
of the victims trafficked through Slovakia likely continue 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  002.6 OF 010 
 
 
to come from the former Soviet Republics (especially Moldova 
and Ukraine), the Former Yugoslavia, and other Balkan 
nations, and are trafficked to the Czech Republic, Germany, 
Switzerland, and France, and to a lesser extent to Italy, 
Austria, the Netherlands, and Japan.  Other victims come 
from economically depressed regions of Slovakia, including 
the Roma minority population. 
 
Victims who have been returned to Slovakia are usually 
young, female, and Romani; many report being trafficked 
after accepting offers from relatives to arrange for work 
abroad.  Some willingly enter into prostitution only to 
become trafficked at a later date.  A male victim also 
contacted the authorities to report that an employment 
agency forced him to perform in pornographic films after 
taking him to Japan; he contacted the authorities only after 
he became aware of their continued recruitment in Slovakia. 
 
There has been little change in the extent of the 
trafficking problem in Slovakia.  Reports from partner 
organizations of Slovak NGOs in the Czech Republic and 
elsewhere do not show wide fluctuations in their numbers of 
Slovak clients.  Recent in-depth studies of the Roma 
community in Slovakia and the Czech Republic have brought 
more attention to the acute vulnerability of Roma women to 
traffickers, but did not specify whether this was a rising 
trend. 
 
¶C.  GOVERNMENT LIMITATIONS 
 
While there is now ample political will to pursue the fight 
against trafficking in persons among the Slovak government, 
the institutionalization of the new National Coordinator 
position and - more importantly - his budget has not yet 
been made permanent, as the position and its budget were 
implemented after approval of the government's 2006 budget. 
The National Coordinator was given a budget of SKK 1.9 
million (around USD 60,000) with which to implement an 
increased network of victim services and awareness campaigns 
for the first year; this money came from general funds of 
the Ministry of the Interior.  The Ministry of Finance 
placed a "freeze" on the hiring of any new police positions, 
but the National Coordinator has moved forward with plans 
for additional training of current officers in TIP victim 
identification, and has requested the reassignment of others 
to anti-TIP portfolios. 
 
The government faces severe financial constraints in other 
areas as well, which inhibits the ability of certain 
institutions to work most effectively.  For example, the 
Police Anti-Trafficking Unit lacks funds for language 
training that would facilitate improved international 
cooperation.  No dedicated shelters exist yet in Slovakia, 
though NGOs are working with several municipalities to 
create specialized shelter facilities.  Domestic violence 
activists frequently complain about the lack of facilities 
for abused women, some of whom are trafficking victims. 
 
¶D.  GOVERNMENT SELF-MONITORING 
 
The MOI provides internal assessments and baseline 
information regarding the nature of trafficking in Slovakia. 
IOM Bratislava conducted the most complete research based on 
focus groups, press monitoring, interviews, and available 
official statistics from embassies.  A La Strada study has 
reported Slovak Roma women trafficked to Prague or Czech 
border towns near Germany, and anecdotal evidence from 
returned victims suggests this information is still valid. 
Traffickers, who are often known by their Roma victims, 
frequently recruit women through employment schemes.  Some 
Roma women enter into prostitution willingly, fleeing the 
conditions of an abusive home or poor living conditions in a 
Roma settlement (or shantytown), and become victims of 
trafficking in the destination country.  The Slovak NGO 
People in Peril and the Slovak Alliance of Women are 
currently working on comparable studies focusing on the 
point of origin.  IOM hopes to undertake a study of the 
demand side of the trafficking equation in Slovakia, and has 
received EU funding for this endeavor; it expects the 
government will also financially back the study. 
 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  003.6 OF 010 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  PREVENTION ACTIVITIES 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶A.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 
 
The Slovak government and officials acknowledge trafficking 
in persons as a problem.  In April, the Government created a 
national coordinating expert working group to address the 
issue (see para 2.A above).  In October, a National 
Coordinator was appointed.  Together, the working group and 
National Coordinator drafted a National Action Plan which 
was submitted and approved by the Government in January. 
Government interlocutors are responsive and motivated to the 
issue and have continued to impress Emboffs with their 
efforts, plans, and dedication to addressing this problem. 
 
¶B.  GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
 
The MOI is the ministry most actively involved in combating 
trafficking, gathering information, investigating cases, 
protecting witnesses, and cooperating with the NGO sector; 
it is also the Ministry to which the National Coordinator 
reports.  The Police Unit to Combat Trafficking in Persons, 
created within the Bureau of Organized Crime in 2002, 
coordinates most activity regarding trafficking both within 
Slovakia and with INTERPOL; members of the unit have 
traveled overseas to participate in seminars and training. 
The unit documents and investigates crimes, monitors known 
places of prostitution, investigates suspicious travel or 
employment schemes, and contributes to public awareness by 
giving-presentations at conferences and conducting training. 
The Border and Alien police are responsible for monitoring 
border crossings for evidence of trafficking, with the 
customs directorate, and with the MFA also playing a role. 
 
The Equal Opportunity Office at the Ministry of Social 
Affairs and Labor (MOL) supports NGO activity through 
grants, manages the implementation of international 
protocols regarding worker's rights, and passed in June a 
National Action Plan for the Reduction of Violence Against 
Women which dovetails with the National Action Plan to 
Combat Trafficking in Persons.  The MOJ is responsible for 
strengthening safeguards for victim protection.  The General 
Prosecutor is responsible for the prosecution of 
traffickers, and reported increases in both the number of 
investigations and the number of charges filed during the 
last reporting period. 
 
¶C. ANTI-TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGNS 
 
Government officials and agencies cooperated with NGOs on 
anti-trafficking information and education campaigns, mostly 
targeting potential trafficking victims; IOM also trained 
Slovak military personnel assigned abroad - particularly on 
peacekeeping missions - to identify and report potential 
trafficking victims they may encounter.  The Ministry of 
Education continues to assist in the organization of 
discussion groups in a number of schools and to distribute 
handbooks about working abroad legally associated with this 
project.  The MOL has provided small grants to local 
projects seeking to raise TIP awareness.  NGOs are using 
government and EU support to implement creative awareness 
campaigns including films and theatre performances.  In 
addition, Slovak NGO Dafne partnered with several government 
institutions, such as the Dolny Kubin District Labor Office, 
to apply for EU grants and projects. 
 
¶D. OTHER PROGRAMS 
 
NATIONAL ACTION PLANS 
 
The government passed a National Action Plan for the fight 
against trafficking in persons on January 11, 2006; the plan 
calls for the establishment of an increased network of 
victim support services (specifically regarding legal, 
psychiatric, medical, and social assistance), the creation 
of repatriation protocols for Slovak victims identified 
abroad, and increased media and youth outreach campaigns. 
In addition, the action plan finances the modernization and 
improvement of an anonymous police tip line for victims of 
trafficking, which has been successful in identifying both 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  004.6 OF 010 
 
 
current and former victims who wish to help warn others of 
their experiences. 
 
In addition, the National Action Plan for Women elaborates 
the governmental strategy for women for the next ten years 
in the areas of health, education, and political rights. 
The National Action Plan for the Reduction of Violence 
Against Women, which includes trafficking in persons, was 
also passed in June 2005.  The MOL granted approximately 
500,000 USD to small municipal projects and NGOs to support 
facilities and services for women and children.  The 
government continues to invest in transforming large state 
orphanages into small family based care, with a special 
emphasis on strengthening the foster care system.  UNHCR 
reported that the government's migration office established 
a shelter specifically for unaccompanied minors who enter 
Slovakia illegally; while UNHCR feels that the shelter goes 
a long way towards protecting minors from being preyed upon 
by traffickers, it has concerns about the security and 
management of the facility. 
 
¶F. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNEMNT AND NGOS 
 
Cooperation exists between the government, NGOs, foreign 
embassies, and other international organizations focused on 
trafficking through working groups and committees.  Police 
worked with NGOs to receive training on victim 
identification and assistance, and are required by law to 
inform victims about how and where to find local support 
services.  NGO leaders stated that police have begun to 
contact them directly about certain cases and communication 
continues to improve. 
 
NGOs and IOM both report that the government's attitude 
towards trafficking has improved significantly in the past 
several years, and one NGO noted that anti-trafficking 
organizations that can demonstrate results have no problem 
finding government financial support. 
 
¶G.  MONITORING OF BORDERS 
 
The MOI has continually strengthened border protection 
mechanisms and improved cross-border cooperation, 
particularly to gain eligibility for the Schengen Treaty in 
¶2008.  However, Slovakia continues to be a transit country 
for illegal migrant smuggling to Western Europe.  Police 
continue to have success combating this crime, making 
significant progress - specifically along the Ukrainian 
border - in breaking up smuggling rings. 
 
The asylum process continues to have problems managing the 
flow of migrants.  The United Nations High Commission for 
Refugees (UNHCR) has criticized it in the past as 
inefficient, but announced in February that the situation is 
improving slightly.  The number of asylum cases granted 
increased from one to three percent over the past year, but 
UNHCR still notes a "generosity gap" in asylum decisions. 
 
UNHCR believes that the majority of smuggled or trafficked 
persons "disappear" by terminating their asylum cases after 
being registered at reception and refugee facilities, though 
Slovakia has also made significant progress in deterring 
illegal migration across its borders: in the past year, the 
number of new asylum cases decreased by 69 percent, and the 
number of asylum seekers who terminate the procedure 
decreased 75 percent, from 11,782 people in 2004 to 2,923 in 
¶2005.  UNHCR believes that increased border security and 
scrutiny, particularly along the Slovak/Ukrainian border, 
has resulted in shifting smuggling routes. 
 
NGOs monitoring asylum camps have hypothesized in the past 
that some women, especially Ukrainian and Moldovan asylum- 
applicants, may fall victim to traffickers for the purpose 
of sexual exploitation along this route; however, no 
research has been conducted in this area.  The Alliance of 
Women has commented in the past that NGOs should have more 
access to women and unaccompanied minors throughout this 
process.  The MOL funded two organizations to create 
facilities for unaccompanied minors, and the law has 
recently been amended to allow other organizations, besides 
solely the Migration Office, to serve as legal guardians for 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  005.6 OF 010 
 
 
this population. 
 
NGOs and IOM also continue to conduct police training and 
have cooperated with border police to identify potential 
trafficking victims among migrant populations.  This 
cooperation with police has increased and is generally 
positive, according to NGO reps. 
 
¶H.  INTER-GOVERNEMNTAL COORDINATION 
 
In April the government convened an expert working group 
comprised of various Ministry stakeholders, as well as 
representatives from the police, IOM, and a victims' support 
NGO.  In addition, many agencies serve on IOM's steering 
committee, the Committee for the Prevention of Criminality, 
the MOJ Working Group for Victim Protection, and the 
committee drafting the National Action Plan to Reduce 
Violence Against Women.  The GOS has had an anti-corruption 
office in operation since 2001, and this year a special 
prosecutor and a special court against corruption began 
operations to deal particularly with high-level corruption 
cases.  The court has already handed down several 
convictions, including a sitting Member of Parliament, the 
mayor of Bratislava-Raca, the Mayor of Velky Meder, and a 
doctor who was requiring bribes for medical services. 
 
¶J.  NATIONAL ACTION PLAN OF ACTION 
 
The government's trafficking expert working group drafted a 
National Action Plan for the Fight Against Trafficking in 
Persons, and the National Coordinator submitted it to the 
cabinet in January.  It was approved by the government on 
January 11, 2006.  The Action Plan prioritizes the 
additional steps to be taken by the government, placing 
first priority on creating an increased victims support 
network focusing on providing victims with legal, 
psychiatric, medical, and social assistance.  IOM is 
assisting the government with the creation of this network, 
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is helping create a 
formal repatriation and referral plan for Slovak victims 
identified abroad.  IOM, NGOs, and government officials have 
told us that they have been very pleased with the National 
Action Plan submitted by the expert working group, and that 
they are confident that its momentum will extend past the 
first year.  The National Coordinator believes that a more 
institutionalized victims support network will also increase 
the government's ability to prosecute traffickers, as more 
victims will be willing to participate in investigations and 
court procedures against their abusers. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Investigation and Prosecution of Traffickers 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶A.  LEGAL FRAMEWORK 
 
Parliament recently amended and ratified relevant 
trafficking legislation to conform to EU directives and UN 
requirements.  The UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and 
Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and 
Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention 
against Transnational Organized Crime was signed November 
2001 and ratified by Parliament on February 4, 2004; 
approved by the president on June 14.  Parliament also 
recently passed a new law on victim assistance requiring 
police to provide victims of any crime information on 
organizations that can help them.  Organizations for victims 
of trafficking stated that this is helping foster closer 
cooperation between law enforcement officers and active 
NGOs. 
 
Trafficking in Persons (previously trafficking in women) is 
defined and criminalized through Section 246 in the Criminal 
Code.  Other related legislation includes: Section 216 a/b 
on trafficking in children, Section 204 on Procurement 
(Pimping), Section 215 on torture of a close person or 
person in one's charge, Section 205 and 205a on endangering 
morality.  New amendments state explicitly the extra- 
territorial nature of this crime and acknowledge that the 
crime also entails fraudulent means, violence, threat, or 
other forms of coercion to elicit agreement from a victim 
older than 18 years person for a crime of trafficking. 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  006.7 OF 010 
 
 
These laws are being used in trafficking cases and 
adequately cover the full scope of trafficking. 
 
According to UNHCR, Slovakia is a signatory to all 
international agreements relating to trafficking in persons 
and most multilateral conventions on combating organized 
crime.  The country participates in all EU structures and 
working groups in the field of justice and home affairs that 
seek to monitor and control trafficking in persons. 
 
¶B. PENALTIES FOR TRAFFICKING 
 
The provision on trafficking (both for the purpose of sexual 
and labor exploitation) states that any person, who entices, 
enlists, transfers or receives another person to or from 
abroad with the intention to engage such person in sexual 
intercourse or exploitation is liable to a term of 
imprisonment of three to ten years (prosecution under the 
prior statute resulted in a sentence of only one to five 
years).  A three to ten year sentence is also applicable to 
a person who exploits another person through forced labor, 
involuntary servitude, slavery, or other similar forms of 
exploitation.  The penalty increases to a 5 to 12 year 
prison term if a) the offence is committed as a member of an 
organized group, b) the offense is committed against a 
person under 18 years of age, c) the offense is committed 
with the intention to use a person for prostitution, d) the 
offender gains considerable profit, e) the offender commits 
the offense against the will of another person.  The penalty 
increases to 8 to 15 years if the offender a) causes serious 
bodily harm or death, b) gains extensive profit for himself 
or another, or c) the offense is committed as a member of a 
group operating in several countries. Lastly, a term of 12 
to 15 years can be applied if the offence is committed by a 
member of a criminal group and causes the death of several 
persons. 
 
¶C. PENALTIES FOR RAPE 
 
The penalty for rape is on a par with that for trafficking. 
The sentence for rape is 2 to 8 years' imprisonment and 
could be increased to 5 to 12 years depending on the age of 
the victim or whether violence was used.  The sentence may 
be further increased to 10 to 15 years if there is a 
resulting death.  In 2005, 200 rapes were investigated, and 
charges were brought in 166.  During 2005, the courts handed 
down sentences in 70 rape cases. 
 
¶D. PROSTITUTION 
 
Prostitution is not explicitly forbidden in Slovakia, nor is 
it regulated.  The Criminal Code prohibits pimping 
activities, including coercing or taking advantage of or 
gaining from the prostitution of others.  Sentences range 
from 1 to 12 years depending on the age of the victim and 
whether organized crime was involved.  If the offense 
involves children under the age of 15 or between 15 and 18, 
the Criminal Code assigns two stricter penalties 
accordingly. Local governments can prohibit the offer of 
sexual services in public places and offenders can be fined. 
 
¶E. PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
 
According to the General Prosecutor, the number of 
trafficking investigations increased to 47, and the number 
of charges filed increased to 30.  3 convictions were handed 
down in 2005, with an additional international ring 
sentenced in January to lengthy jail terms.  This number has 
been consistent for the past three years and raises the 
total number of convictions since 1997 to 63.  Early 
releases and plea-bargaining are not a formal part of the 
Slovak legal system; therefore the length of sentences are 
standard for those convicted and the government confirms 
that traffickers are serving the time in prison.  A Czech 
woman found guilty of participating in a trafficking ring 
was sentenced to eight years in January, and has filed a 
request for transfer to a Czech prison facility. 
 
¶F.  PERPETRATORS 
 
According to the testimony of some victims and offenders, 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  007.3 OF 010 
 
 
trafficking in Slovakia is a highly organized criminal 
activity either in small crime groups or larger 
international syndicates.  Due to the transborder aspect of 
the local trafficking problem, most groups appear to be 
organized with international participation.  Organized 
trafficking groups can consist of Germans, Czechs, Russians, 
Ukrainians, Albanians, Italians, Macedonians, Poles, or 
Slovenes.  Among Roma, trafficking tends to be perpetrated 
from within the community.  Male and female Slovak 
traffickers usually have prior knowledge and direct 
experience in the sex industry in Western Europe.  They 
typically utilize employment or hostess agency schemes, but 
also rely on personal connections with women.  In the 2004 
Nitra case, famous photographers, businessman, and makeover 
consultants stand accused as collaborating with a Slovak 
hostess agency that reportedly solicited 230 women, in some 
instances using coercion, in both the Slovak and Czech 
Republics.  There have been no convictions of any 
governmental officials in crimes related to trafficking in 
persons. There were no reports about where profits from 
trafficking were channeled. 
 
¶G.  INVESTIGATION OF CASES 
 
The government actively investigates cases of trafficking. 
After the creation of the specialized anti-trafficking unit 
at Police Headquarters, the country participated in numerous 
international investigations and had several successful 
arrests.  The Police utilize techniques such as inspections 
of suspected places of prostitution, and monitor internet 
sites actively.  Police established a central anonymous 
information hotline for tips about traffickers or victims 
which has been used by both male and female victims. 
Slovakia has been awaiting the second phase of a UN project 
which will improve available equipment and training. 
 
¶H.  TRAINING 
 
To date, the American Bar Association's Central European and 
Eurasian Initiative (ABA/CEELI), IOM, and other NGOs 
collaborated with MOI officials to provide inter- 
disciplinary training concerning the treatment of victims, 
trafficking indicators, and investigative techniques. 
Trafficking in persons is also discussed in educational 
modules at the police academy concerning victim protection 
and human rights.  The director of Victim Support Slovakia, 
stated that district police are learning more about working 
with victims of trafficking as a result of the new law 
requiring police to give detailed information about service 
providers to victims.  She stated that police are more apt 
to consult with her organization on specific cases about how 
to work with victims.   More training is necessary for 
border police, customs officials, and staff and social 
workers at the refugee camps and asylum reception 
facilities. 
 
¶I. INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION 
 
The GOS cooperated with a number of foreign governments in 
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. 
They have cooperated specifically with the Federal Criminal 
Bureau of Germany, the Austrian Criminal Service, the police 
force of the Czech Republic, and the criminal service of the 
Hungarian police.  Most international cooperation occurs in 
the framework of Interpol and Europol, which Slovakia joined 
in 2003.  The specialized trafficking unit notes that the 
lack of English language ability among Slovak police 
sometimes limits investigations.  No specific number of 
international investigations is available. 
 
¶J. EXTRADITION 
 
Based on the Law on Criminal Court Procedures of 2002, 
Slovakia can extradite persons for any crime with a 
corresponding sentence longer than one year, except a crime 
political in nature.  Slovak citizens can only be extradited 
when governed by a treaty signed by Slovakia. The UN 
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime allows for 
Slovakia to extradite traffickers.  In February, the 
government signed a new bilateral extradition agreement with 
the U.S. allowing for the extradition of non-Slovaks to the 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  008.3 OF 010 
 
 
United States. 
 
¶K. GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN TRAFFICKING 
 
There is no evidence of governmental involvement in or 
tolerance of trafficking.  Despite governmental efforts to 
combat petty corruption on the borders and among police, the 
problem still exists.  However, the criminal activities of 
these individuals do not reflect institutional acceptance on 
a local or national level.  In general, women involved in 
"sex business" in any way are viewed negatively by society 
and are quickly classified as a criminal element. 
 
¶L. GOVERNMENT STEPS TO END INVOLVEMENT IN TRAFFICKING 
 
According to Police sources, there were no convictions of 
police involved in trafficking. 
 
¶M. CHILD SEX TOURISM 
 
Slovakia is not identified as a destination for child sex 
tourism.  According to news reports and recent research, 
Slovak victims under the age of 18 have been sighted on the 
Czech-German border that has been known to attract 
pedophiles.  The trafficking in children law, like the 
trafficking in persons, reflects extraterritoriality. 
 
¶N.  INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 
 
-- ILO Convention 182 concerning the elimination of the 
worst forms of child labor: Ratified December 20, 1999 
-- ILO Convention 29 Abolition of Forced Labor: Ratified 
January 1, 1993 
-- ILO Convention 105 Abolition of Forced Compulsory Labor: 
Ratified September 29, 1997 
-- Optional protocol to the UN Convention of the Rights of 
the Child (CRC) regarding the sexual exploitation of 
children and the sale of children: Ratified February 4, 2004 
-- The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking 
in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the 
UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime: 
Ratified in February 2004 
 
¶5. (SBU) Protection and Assistance to Victims 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶A. VICTIM ASSISTANCE 
 
The Slovak authorities are required to postpone deportation 
of any third-country national who seeks to enter a witness 
protection program or who claims asylum, thus providing 
temporary residency status.  However, access to legal, 
medical, and psychological services for victims was lacking 
at the beginning of 2005; it was since identified as a 
priority area for government attention and is the 
cornerstone of Slovakia's National Action Plan. The country 
cooperates with local NGOs, such as Victim's Support 
Slovakia, Dafne, the Alliance for Slovak Women, and IOM, in 
order to locate temporary shelter and health services. 
Dafne and Urobme received start-up funds from the GOS to 
establish asylum facilities, but have not been able to raise 
additional funds or secure proper locations, though progress 
has been made in identifying potential options. 
 
¶B. FUNDING FOR NGOS 
 
The GOS provides money for Victims Support Slovakia to 
support counseling services, and its employees have all 
received special training for working with victims of 
trafficking.  The MOI occasionally provides funds to Dafne 
to assist returned victims to Slovakia.  The Ministry of 
Labor also administers grants to NGOs via the EU PHARE 
program, and NGO representatives have been pleased with the 
funding they have received in recent years.  IOM, however, 
was unable to secure a government grant for a program that 
would have provided for a study and the training of all Roma 
community social workers in trafficking prevention.  The 
government continues to contribute to IOM expenses by 
providing basic materials and a portion of rent. 
 
In 2005, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs received 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  009.3 OF 010 
 
 
NGO grant requests totaling SKK 1,080,340 (around USD 
34,000) for TIP programs; it awarded SKK 620,000 (around USD 
19,800). 
 
¶C. TRANSFER OF VICTIMS 
 
Police refer identified victims to NGOs, based on a law 
requiring authorities to provide information about 
organizations offering support services to potential 
victims.  The Anti-Trafficking Unit screens and refers 
victims who are actively participating in the investigation 
process or witness protection.  IOM and UNHCR also 
distribute multilingual information to migrant communities 
at risk for trafficking. 
 
¶D. RIGHTS OF VICTIMS 
 
When an individual is identified as a trafficking victim, 
the victim's rights are respected and he/she does not face 
fines or jail sentences.  However, it has been reported that 
unidentified victims have been treated as illegal migrants 
or prostitutes and have been detained or deported.  The 
Alliance of Slovak Women stated that access to detained 
women or other potential victims in order to determine 
whether the individual could be the victim of a crime is 
minimal. 
 
¶E. LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TRAFFICKERS 
 
In the past, trafficking arrests are mostly due to victim 
complaints and follow-up cooperation, which the government 
strongly encourages; in 2005, the government has 
demonstrated an increase in investigations and prosecutions. 
By law, victims may file civil suits or seek legal action 
against traffickers.  According to the IOM and UNHCR, 
victims are reluctant to do so because of lengthy trials and 
the perceived lack of psychological, financial, and legal 
assistance, though the National Coordinator believes an 
increased support network will help this perception.  The 
MOJ states there are provisions for the compensation of 
victims, but many have difficulty finding legal 
representation without adequate resources.  The MOJ is now 
currently implementing new EU directives that make the state 
more liable for victim compensation.  The new law will also 
allow EU citizens of other countries to seek redress in 
Slovakia. 
 
¶F. PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS AND WITNESSES 
 
The government provides witness protection for victims, 
based upon a decision by an inter-ministerial committee. 
Other witness protection measures include recorded testimony 
or testimony through video connection, which is now 
mandatory for minors.  Another new law explicitly states 
that the victim and perpetrator must be kept separate during 
the judicial procedure, thus requiring video testimony for 
most current trafficking cases.  According to Victims 
Support Slovakia, this will also reduce the number of times 
a victim must give a statement to investigators and 
prosecutors, making the process for victims easier. 
 
¶G.  TRAINING FOR ASSISTANCE TO TRAFFICKED INDIVIDUALS 
 
The GOS has cooperated with NGOs to provide training in 
recognizing trafficking victims, and it is included in the 
curriculum at the Police Academy.  The MOL recently gave two 
grants to organizations to provide specialized services for 
unaccompanied minors, which will further encourage more 
attention to the specialized needs of children.  Slovak 
Embassies and consulates abroad are able to provide help to 
victims of trafficking including providing travel documents, 
assistance with money transfers, contacting relatives, 
arranging services, and travel home, and the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs is currently coordinating a referral system 
in which repatriated victims will enter into the victims 
services network.  In some foreign missions, it is 
permissible to allow temporary accommodation and boarding. 
Slovak embassies abroad and NGOs cooperate according to the 
needs exhibited in the host country. 
 
¶H.  GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000160  010.3 OF 010 
 
 
 
According to IOM, the present situation in Slovakia has 
improved drastically since 2004.  The focus on increased 
victims support - including legal, psychological, medical, 
and social assistance - by the competent government 
Ministries, the National Coordinator, and the expert working 
group, will hopefully provide increased capacity and 
encourage returning victims to seek assistance.  Some 
trafficking NGO representatives are quite pleased with the 
focus on victims assistance, and encouraged by the 
government response to their initiatives and requests. 
 
¶I.  NGO ASSISTANCE 
 
The Slovak Alliance of Women announced that in 2005 they 
will help establish Slovakia's first NGO focused solely on 
trafficking, but the relationship between the two is still 
"like a daughter to a mother" at this stage.  IOM is the 
only organization to have conducted research in this area 
and which has the capacity to launch nation-wide projects. 
The focus of their programming in 2005 was on education, 
particularly operating school discussion groups.  Dafne, an 
organization based in Northern Slovakia, has conducted 
regional informational campaigns and helped repatriate 
victims, and has hopes to soon establish the country's first 
dedicated shelter for trafficking victims.  Through contacts 
all over Europe, Dafne assisted women transiting to and 
through Slovakia.  The Alliance for Women and Victims 
Support Slovakia provides a help-line for victims of 
violence and helps broker services for their clients. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Anti-TIP Hero 
------------------------ 
 
Post nominates Slovakia's first National Coordinator for the 
Fight Against Trafficking in Persons, Pavol Draxler, for 
recognition as an Anti-Trafficking "Hero."  Draxler, who 
assumed the position October 1, was responsible for the 
drafting, editing, coordination, and approval of Slovakia's 
National Action Plan, and has impressed even non- 
governmental members of the expert working group with his 
ability to create "models of assistance" that draw upon the 
regional expertise of small Slovak NGOs to provide victim 
assistance and to realized the importance of securing ample 
and ongoing government assistance.  Draxler has breathed new 
life into trafficking cases which appeared to have become 
stagnate, urging prosecutors to forward their cases to 
court.  He also has proved an invaluable contact for post on 
trafficking and other human rights issues, often finding 
answers to specific questions about abuses and allegations. 
A former NGO representative himself, he brings a dynamic and 
results-oriented approach to the problem of trafficking. 
 
VALLEE