Regarding trafficking in human beings, Slovenia is a transit country and also a country of destination for men, women and children trafficked for purposes of commercial sexual exploitation, forced criminal activities and forced begging. The main countries of origin of identified victims of human trafficking are: China, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosna and Hercegovina, Slovakia, Dominican Republic and Bulgaria. The vast majority of identified victims of trafficking are exploited for sexual purposes. Ethnic Roma are also particularly vulnerable to human trafficking in Slovenia. A detailed national action plan (2019–2020) to combat trafficking in human beings is in force and the country is making significant efforts to prevent the trafficking in human beings and to provide assistance and protection of victims.
The IOM office in Slovenia operates under the Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the International Organization for Migration signed in Ljubljana on 19 December 2001. Activities of the office include assisted voluntary return including reintegration in the countries of origin, facilitating family reunification for refugees, data collection and projects aimed at strengthening the protection and assistance to migrants in a vulnerable situation, especially unaccompanied and separated children, victims of trafficking and other forms of violence, exploitation and abuse.
IOM Slovenia: Summary of Projects
Project: Family Reunification
Duration: On-going
Donor: Self-payer
IOM assists in family reunification procedures for beneficiaries of international protection in Slovenia by providing pre-departure information, help with obtaining travel documents and comprehensive movement logistics in coordination with the authorities and other IOM country offices. If needed, IOM can also help the family members with arranging accommodation during travel, local transport, medical checks before departure, escorts for children so they travel safely and with necessary support as well as escorts for persons in need of medical or other special assistance during travel.
Project: Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme (AVRR)
Duration: 24 months (1 January 2019 – 31 December 2020)
Donor: Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia and the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)
Implemented since 2009 and in line with similar IOM AVRR programmes implemented globally, the Slovenian AVRR programme features the organization of voluntary return and reintegration for migrants wishing to return home. It includes all operational and logistical considerations of the return and the option of in-kind reintegration support.
Project: TRAIN4M&H – Provision of Training for First-line Health Professionals and Law Enforcement Officers Working at Local Level with Migrants and Refugees
Donor: Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission (DG SANTE) and the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea)
The objective of the tender is to support EU Member States in reducing knowledge gaps of different categories of health professionals, law enforcement officers, social workers, coach trainers for health and other professionals in respect to health-related border policies and health challenges faced by migrant populations.
Project: PROTECT – Preventing Sexual and Gender-based Violence Against Migrants and Strengthening Support to Victims
Duration: 18 months (1 October 2018 – 31 March 2020)
Donor: European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020)
The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacities of existing national support services for sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) to coordinate better and make these systems available for refugee, migrant and asylum seeker victims and potential victims of SGBV. The project also aims to raise awareness about SGBV and empower migrant communities. In Slovenia, the project is implemented in partnership with Association Legebitra.
Read more about the activities of IOM Slovenia on the country office's website.
