VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLJ #0119/01 0601511
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011511Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5585
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000119 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DRL/G/TIP, EUR/PGI, EUR/NCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN ELAB SMIG KRFD PREF SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 2007 
 
REF: 2006 STATE 202745 
 
¶1. (U) This message transmits post's contribution to the 
Department of State's seventh annual report on Trafficking in 
Persons.  Responses below are keyed to questions in paras 
27-30 of reftel.  Embassy POC is Pol/Econ Chief Colleen 
Hyland; tel. 386-1 -200-5708, fax 386-1-200-5650.  Based on 
information detailed below, Mission recommends that Slovenia 
be considered for placement in Tier One this reporting cycle. 
 We have seen a continued focus on anti TIP activities in 
Slovenia in the last year including new prosecutions and 
convictions, which merits giving Slovenia serious 
consideration for inclusion in Tier One. 
The GOS is directly and actively working to combat 
trafficking in close partnership with NGOS, law enforcement 
and governments of other countries.  This reporting cycle, 
the GOS has continued implementing the National Action Plan 
to Combat Trafficking in Persons for the period of 2004-2006, 
and it has completed work on a one year plan for 2007. 
 
In 2006, the NGO Karitas cared for nine potential victims who 
required emergency housing and helped an additional 12 who 
were not in need of housing.  Karitas helped eight to return 
to their country of origin which included Slovakia, Ukraine, 
Moldova, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Turkey, Albania, 
Montenegro and Macedonia.  Nineteen of these potential 
victims were women and two were men.  Most were between the 
ages of 20-23 with the youngest aged 19 and the oldest aged 
35 years old.  The NGO Kljuc also assisted potential victims 
in need of immediate housing (11) and assisted others (8) who 
did not require housing.  Kljuc assisted 18 women, one man 
and three minors between the ages of 15-17.  These potential 
victims came from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Bulgaria, 
Serbia, Ukraine and Montenegro. 
 
Data are now collected in a more uniform and clearly defined 
manner for the second year in a row allowing for a more 
accurate picture of the TIP problem through statistics in 
Slovenia.  The GOS continues to develop and increase 
investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sentences of 
traffickers. This year, seven people were convicted of 
trafficking and related crimes. Public awareness remains an 
important element of the Government's anti-trafficking work, 
as does sensitizing potential victims and making legal and 
social assistance available.  Funding for victim protection 
in 2006 was awarded to the only NGO to compete for the 
contract, Karitas.  In early 2007, two NGOs and a private 
company competed for two victim protection contracts.  The 
Ministry of the Interior awarded a contract worth EUR 35,000, 
to the NGO Kljuc. The second, administered by the Ministry of 
Labor and worth EUR 33,000, was awarded at the end of 
February 2007 to Karitas.  The value of these two tenders 
represents a 70% increase in funding for victim care over 
2006 when a single contract valued at EUR 40,000 was awarded 
to Karitas.  After a difficult situation in 2005, the 
Government of Slovenia, in 2006, realized the goal of 
expanding the range of NGOs involved in anti-trafficking in 
Slovenia, increasing cooperation among those NGOs, and 
providing solid care for trafficking victims in Slovenia. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Activities to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
(A)  Is the country a country of origin, transit or 
destination for internationally trafficked men, women, or 
children? 
 
Slovenia is primarily a transit country for internationally 
trafficked victims.  To a lesser extent it is also a 
destination country and, almost negligibly, a country of 
origin. 
 
(B) General overview of trafficking in the country. 
 
Victims of trafficking are trafficked to or through Slovenia 
mainly from Eastern Europe and more recently from Central and 
South America (Ukraine, Slovakia, Dominican Republic and 
Colombia) and Southeastern Europe (Romania, Moldova, 
Bulgaria, former Yugoslav republics).  A very small number of 
persons are trafficked from Slovenia to Western Europe. 
(NOTE: there were no reported cases this year, however we 
feel it would be premature to remove this part of the 
response. END NOTE) 
 
Trafficking does not appear to have increased nor decreased 
significantly since the last report.  Sources and 
destinations of trafficking victims appear to follow patterns 
similar to past reporting. 
The primary source of reliable information is the 
Interdepartmental Working Group for Fighting TIP (IWG) and 
all agencies participating in the Group. 
 
As in past years, there are still several (number varies 
depending on the season) bars and nightclubs located 
primarily along the Adriatic coast and Italian border that 
employ up to 1000 women and teenage girls as "artistic 
dancers."  Owners of the bars and pimps, however, are not now 
always using the facade of the bar to conduct business.  They 
have begun providing apartments for the women and allowing 
them to operate as call girls using advertisements in local 
papers and magazines. 
 
(C) What are the limitations on the government's ability to 
address this problem in practice? 
 
There are no limitations. Post is not aware of any government 
corruption related to TIP. The National Action Plan for 
fighting TIP was adopted in 2004 and covers the period until 
the end of 2006. A new one-year plan covering 2007 was 
adopted by the GOS in July 2006.  In 2005, there were some 
problems with funding the NGO that provided care for victims. 
 In 2006, to encourage wider participation among NGOS and to 
ensure transparency of government funding, The Ministry of 
Labor, Family and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Interior 
published an open tender for care of victims of TIP.  Only 
one NGO applied and it was awarded the one-year contract.  In 
December 2006, two new tenders were published to cover victim 
care for 2007.  The Ministry of the Interior awarded a 
contract worth EUR 35,000, to the NGO Kljuc. The second, 
administered by the Ministry of Labor and worth EUR 33,000, 
was awarded to Karitas.  The value of these two tenders 
represents a 70% increase in funding for victim care over 
2006 when a single contract valued at EUR 40,000 was awarded 
to Karitas.  The MOI contract is for the maintenance of a 
safe house and the settling of the legal status of victims if 
they choose to cooperate with law enforcement.  The Ministry 
of Labor contract is for crisis (immediate) housing (four 
days or less) and all "first contact" procedures. 
 
(D) To what extent does the government systematically monitor 
its anti-trafficking efforts? 
 
The IWG, which includes members from different ministries, 
parliament, NGOS, and media, coordinates all government and 
non-government activities in an effort to combat TIP.  The 
IWG meets regularly during the year.  In 2006 it met five 
times as a full body, and bimonthly in sub-groups.  The IWG 
publishes and disseminates an annual report that details all 
its anti- trafficking efforts for each calendar year, usually 
in March. 
 
 
---------- 
Prevention 
---------- 
 
(A) Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a 
problem in the country? 
 
Yes. 
 
(B) Which government agencies are involved in 
anti-trafficking efforts? 
 
The Ministries of Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Health, 
Labor Family and Social Affairs, and most recently, Defense. 
Additionally, the GOS Statistical Office, The GOS Office for 
Public Relations and Media, the GOS Equal Opportunity Office, 
certain Parliamentary committees, and the Office of the Prime 
Minister are all involved in anti-trafficking efforts. 
 
(C) Are there or have there been government-run anti- 
trafficking information or education campaigns? 
 
Yes. 
 
They are generally conducted in partnership with local NGOS 
and/or international organizations.  GOS programs for 
increasing awareness are:  the ongoing project "Vijolica" 
which has been conducted for the last several years by the 
NGO Kljuc, in elementary and secondary schools around 
Slovenia.  The project is aimed at raising awareness of 
trafficking among children. In 2006, it reached 545 students 
and their parents.  CAP, a program for prevention of abuse of 
children, has been in operation in Slovenia since 1994 and 
has included numerous workshops this year and addressed 
nearly 900 participants.  Both programs were administered by 
the NGO Kljuc.  The Ministry of Labor sponsors CAP, and 
Vijolica is sponsored by the City of Ljubljana.  The GOS has 
established a web page (portal) with information regarding 
the problem of trafficking. In September, the Ministry of 
Interior and the Council of Europe jointly organized a 
conference titled "Taking Steps Against TIP."  There was 
active participation from all stakeholders including judges, 
prosecutors, law enforcement and NGOs.  Following the 
conference, the Ministry of Interior published a book which 
included all the presentations from the conference and the 
text of the COE convention against trafficking. 
 
With excellent cooperation from the GOS State Prosecutor,s 
office and the Association of Slovenian Judges, Embassy 
Ljubljana sponsored a seminar on the role of the judiciary 
and cooperation with prosecutors on TIP in March 2007.  This 
was the second event on TIP in which judges participated in 
less than six months, indicating an increased awareness of 
TIP and appreciation for the importance of prosecuting these 
cases. 
 
 
(D) Does the government support other programs to prevent 
trafficking? 
 
The Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Affairs selected NGO 
Kljuc to run a three-year project "(Re)integration of victims 
of TIP." The project operates in the framework of another 
Ministry program known as "Equal" (a partnership for 
development) and is currently funded through October 2007. 
The NGO Kljuc conducted research among Slovene employers to 
determine the possibilities for victims of TIP to obtain 
employment. The research was financed through the resources 
of European Social Fund that earmarked over 55 million SIT 
(approx. $275,000) for the entire three-year project. Based 
on this research, an agreement on a "Partnership for 
Development" was signed between the National Institution for 
Emplyment and transnational partners from Italy and Spin. 
Currently two people are included in the program of 
reintegration. 
 
Additionally, the Parliament, on GOS initiative, adopted a 
resolution on equal opportunities for women and men 2005 - 
¶2013.  Among its strategic goals is the prevention of TIP and 
sexual exploitation for prostitution and pornography. 
 
(E) What is the relationship between government officials, 
NGOS, other relevant organizations and other elements of 
civil society on the trafficking issue? 
 
In general, cooperation is excellent. Government officials 
and activists work as equal partners in the IWG to assess 
progress and develop policy recommendations and collaborate 
on training and education efforts. 
 
(F) Does it monitor immigration and emigration patterns for 
evidence of trafficking?  Do law enforcement agencies respond 
appropriately to such evidence? 
 
Yes.  However in some cases, victims are not yet aware they 
are being trafficked when they are passing through Slovenia. 
This makes it more difficult to identify potential victims. 
 
The National Institute for employment runs statistical data 
on foreign citizens employed in Slovenia. Special attention 
is given to the issuance of work permits for so called "risky 
professions" i.e. exotic dancers, show girls, construction 
workers and work permits for Chinese citizens, all of which 
are target categories for traffickers. 
 
(G) Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication 
between various agencies, internal, international, and 
multilateral on trafficking-related matters such as multi- 
agency working groups or a task force?  Does the government 
have a trafficking in person's task force?  Does the 
government have a public corruption task force? 
 
Yes, the Interdepartmental Working Group (IWG).  In addition, 
Slovenia has an Independent Commission for the Prevention of 
Corruption. The government is particularly active in the 
Stability Pact, the OSCE, CoE, Interpol, Europol, SECI Center 
in Bucharest, UNDP and ICMPD.  Slovene police actively 
participate in the Interpol Working Group that fights against 
the Trafficking of Women and Children for Sex Exploitation. 
 
(Note: We reported last year that the parliament adopted a 
law that will transform the Commission for the Prevention of 
Corruption into a Parliamentary Commission in May 2006. This 
has not happened and is currently being appealed to the 
Constitutional Court. The Commission continues to operate 
normally.) 
 
(H) Does the government have a national plan of action to 
address trafficking in persons?  If so, which agencies were 
involved in developing it?  Were NGOS consulted in the 
process?  What steps has government taken to disseminate the 
action plan? 
 
Yes. The Ministries of Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, 
Health, Labor Family and Social Affairs, and most recently, 
Defense are part of the IWG.  Additionally, the GOS 
Statistical Office, The GOS Office for Public Relations and 
Media, the GOS Equal Opportunity Office, certain 
Parliamentary committees, and the Office of the Prime 
Minister are all involved in anti-trafficking efforts. NGOS 
are also included in the Group. 
 
Cooperation is excellent. Government officials and activists 
work as equal partners on the IWG to assess progress and 
develop policy recommendations and collaborate on training 
and education efforts 
 
The IWG publishes and disseminates an annual report that 
details all its anti-trafficking efforts for each calendar 
year. 
 
(Note: in the Fall 2005 the UNHCR closed its office in 
Ljubljana and now covers Slovenia from Budapest. IOM closed 
its office in Ljubljana at the beginning of 2006. Both had 
representatives in the IWG.) 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Investigation and prosecution of traffickers 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
(A) Does the country have a law specifically prohibiting 
trafficking in persons? 
 
Yes. Trafficking in human beings has been defined as a 
criminal offense in the criminal code and is defined in the 
following articles:  Article 185- "Exploitation through 
Prostitution,"  Article 187 "Presentation, Manufacture and 
Distribution of Pornographic Material," Article 311 - 
"Unlawful Crossing of the State border or State Territory," 
Article 387 - "Enslavement," and Article 387(a) "Trafficking 
in Human Beings." 
 
Additionally Parliament passed changes to the Law on Criminal 
Procedure that broaden the rule according to which minors 
must have a legal representative to protect their rights. 
These changes are also reflected in the criminal act under 
article 387a of the Penal Code (Trafficking in Human Beings). 
 
(B) What are the penalties for traffickers of people for 
sexual exploitation?  For traffickers of people for labor 
exploitation? 
 
Sentences can range from six months to ten years, depending 
on the criminal offense.  Penalties under the new articles 
range from one to ten years' imprisonment. 
 
(C) What are the penalties for rape or forcible sexual 
assault? 
 
One to ten years' imprisonment, depending on the 
circumstances. 
 
(D) Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? 
 
Prostitution is decriminalized. Specifically, activities of 
prostitutes are decriminalized. Activities of brothel 
owner/operator, clients, pimps and enforcers are criminalized 
under the Penal Code. 
 
(E) Has the government prosecuted any cases against 
traffickers? 
 
Yes. 
 
Under Article 387a (Trafficking in Persons) - prosecutors 
launched two investigations against four suspects.  Under 
this article, they also filed one criminal indictment against 
two suspects. 
 
Under Article 387 (Forced Slavery) - prosecutors launched one 
investigation (on a case from 2005) and three criminal 
indictments (also from 2005 cases.) 
 
Prosecutors successfully concluded a case, begun in 2001, 
against seven people, which resulted in various convictions. 
Because the law against trafficking in persons did not exist 
in 2001, Slovenian prosecutors had to make their case based 
on four statues that did exist at that time:  Article 387 
(Forced Slavery), Article 185 (Abuse of Prostitution) Article 
187 (Production and Dissemination of pornographic material) 
and Article 311 (Illegal border crossing). 
 
In this case, all seven were indicted under all four 
statutes, but only one was convicted of all four crimes.  The 
rest were convicted of a lesser combination of the above. 
The prosecutors were able to win convictions of five years, 
imprisonment for one person, two years imprisonment for two 
people, 1 year 10 months for one person and three others were 
given probation. 
 
(F) Is there any information or reports of who is behind the 
trafficking? 
 
In Slovenia, traffickers are generally owners of nightclubs 
and local pimps.  In the case described in section (E) two of 
the people involved were bar managers, three were bar tenders 
and two others were taxi drivers. 
 
(G) Does the government actively investigate cases of 
trafficking? 
 
Yes. 
 
(H) Does the government provide any specialized training for 
government officials in how to recognize, investigate, and 
prosecute instances of trafficking? 
 
Yes.  In 2006 the government continued with established 
programs provided by the NGO Kljuc together with the Police, 
Prosecution, and the Faculty of Social Work. 
 
Based on previous "multiplier" training provided by Kljuc, 
the police conducted internal training reaching more than 800 
 
members of the general police force in 2006. 
 
Criminal police received specialized training in the second 
half of 2006 which covered a range of criminal activity and 
specific linkages to trafficking, including smuggling, money 
laundering, and disclosure of illegal profits. 
 
The GOS also funded three cycles of training for the General 
Police Administration hotline operators; two cycles of 
training for Asylum Home staff; and one comprehensive 
training session for Slovenian troops heading to Kosovo to 
take up peace-keeping duties. 
 
Through the Peace Institute, the GOS funded programs on 
&East-East8 cooperation on trafficking, and one program for 
border police on border monitoring and trafficking in human 
beings. 
 
(I) Does the government cooperate with other governments in 
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases? 
 
Yes. The government is particularly active in the Stability 
Pact, the OSCE, CoE, Interpol, Europol, SECI Center in 
Bucharest, UNDP and ICMPD.  In 2006 GOS representatives 
participated in conferences sponsored by the OSCE, CoE, 
ICMPD, EU and IOM. 
 
Slovene police actively participate in the Interpol Working 
Group that fights against the Trafficking of Women and 
Children for Sex Exploitation. The group also actively 
cooperated on the project, "Red Routes," which focused on 
sharing data and methods and procedures on investigations. A 
special line of cooperation was established with EUROPOL to 
take advantage of its anti-trafficking database "Maritsa." 
This was particularly useful for joint effort on cases 
involving migration of trafficking victims from east to west 
Europe. 
 
(J) Does the government extradite persons who are charged 
with trafficking in other countries? 
 
In principle, yes.  However, we are unaware of any such 
requests in the current reporting period. 
 
(K) Is there evidence of government involvement in or 
tolerance of trafficking, on a local or institutional level? 
 
Post is not aware of government officials being involved in 
trafficking. Additionally, the NGO Kljuc was very active in 
the context of the international organization ACTA (Anti 
corruption and Anti trafficking action) in which NGOS from 
ten other countries are included. 
(L) If government officials are involved in trafficking, what 
steps has the government taken to end such participation? 
 
(M) N/A 
 
(N) Has the government signed, ratified, and/or taken steps 
to implement the following international instruments? 
ILO Convention 182 - ratified in March 2001 
 
ILO Convention 29 - ratified in May 1992 
 
ILO Convention 105 - ratified in June 1997 
 
CROC Optional protocol - signed in September 2000 
 
The protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in 
persons, especially women and children, child prostitution, 
and child pornography - ratified in April 2004. 
 
 
------------------------------------ 
Protection and assistance to victims 
------------------------------------ 
 
(A) Does the government assist victims? 
 
Yes.  The National Action Plan identifies The Project Against 
Trafficking and Sex and Gender Based Violence (PATS) which is 
jointly administered by Asylum Section of the Ministry of 
Interior of the GOS, Kljuc, and the NGO Slovene Philanthropy, 
as its primary program for providing information and 
assistance to trafficking victims. The objectives of this 
program are to introduce formalized mechanisms to provide 
information to those asylum-seekers most at risk of falling 
prey to human traffickers and to assist and protect victims 
of human trafficking and sex and gender based violence.  In 
the framework of this project, Kljuc led informational 
discussions with the residents of the Asylum Center in 
Ljubljana.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also actively 
involved in the project and supports efforts to disseminate 
information about Slovenia's programs in the region. 
 
(B) Does the government provide funding or other forms of 
support to foreign or domestic NGOS for services to victims? 
 
Yes. Karitas was funded with EUR 40,000 through the Ministry 
of Labor to provide care to victims. 
 
(C) Is there a screening and referral process in place, when 
appropriate, to transfer victims detained, arrested or placed 
in protective custody by law enforcement authorities to NGOS 
that provide short- or long-term care? 
 
Yes. The Ministry of Interior has an agreement with Kljuc to 
provide these services. 
 
(D) Are the rights of victims respected, or are victims also 
trQted as criminals?  Are victims detained, jailed, or 
deported? 
 
Victims are not treated as criminals and Kljuc and the Police 
Administration work cooperatively according to the MOU. 
 
(E) Does the government encourage victims to assist in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking? 
 
Yes.  The MOU between the MOI and Kljuc specifically provides 
for further extensions of residency status for victims 
participating in the prosecution of traffickers. 
 
(F) What kind of protection is the government able to provide 
for victims and witnesses?  Does it provide these protections 
in practice? 
 
Witness protection is nearly impossible in this country, with 
its small (less than 2 million) and mostly homogenous (90% 
ethnic Slovene) population living almost entirely in small 
towns and villages. 
 
A "Law on Witness Protection" was adopted by the Parliament 
in November 2005.  This law generally provides for the 
protection of witnesses through temporary relocation of 
protected witness, new identity, and international exchange 
of witnesses on the basis of bilateral agreements.  The GOS 
is now looking at possible witness protection programs in the 
wider EU context, as a potential solution to the problems 
posed by the size and homogeneity of Slovenia. 
 
(G) Does the government provide any specialized training for 
government officials in recognizing trafficking and in the 
provision of assistance to trafficked victims, including 
special needs of trafficked children?  Does the government 
provide training on protection and assistance to its 
embassies and consulates in foreign countries that are 
destination or transit countries? 
 
Yes.  See section (C) under Prevention. Additionally, many of 
the "multiplier" programs funded in the past are now the 
primary source of anti-trafficking training within the police 
force. 
 
(H) Does the government provide assistance, such as medical 
aid, shelter, or financial help, to its repatriated nationals 
who are victims of trafficking? 
 
Because the numbers are so small, there are no specific 
governmental programs for Slovenian victims.  Kljuc and 
Karitas work with other local NGOS to help repatriated 
victims take advantage of the extensive network of regular 
government- provided social services. 
 
(I) Which international organizations or NGOS, if any, work 
with trafficking victims? 
 
In 2006 the local office of Karitas (the Catholic charity) 
won the contract to care for victims of trafficking.  Kljuc 
continued to provide some care and a variety of legal, 
psychological and other counseling services to foreign and 
Slovenian victims.  Slovene Philanthropy also provides a 
variety of social services to victims. The GOS through the 
Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Affairs, published an 
open tender in February 2006 seeking interest from NGOS to 
provide care for victims. While only one NGO responded to 
this call, it was an NGO, which had not previously been 
active in anti-trafficking (Karitas), thus adding a much 
needed new partner to the fight against trafficking in 
Slovenia. 
 
 
ROBERTSON