2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Center for Women Policy Studies

seek employment and work permits. Singaporean
authorities refer victims of trafficking to shelters run
by NGOs or foreign embassies. The MCYS in 2006
encouraged one organization to submit a proposal
to establish a shelter and agreed that the government
would provide the facility. The MOM runs a
hotline for domestic workers.
Prevention
The Singaporean government increased efforts to
raise awareness among foreign workers and employers
in 2006. The MOM continued and expanded its
information campaign that targets foreign workers,
including domestics, to inform them of their rights
and the resources available to them. The MOM prints
information on employees’ rights and police hotline
numbers for domestic workers on prepaid phone
cards and in October 2006 started a newsletter that
is mailed directly to foreign domestic workers that
includes information on rights and responsibilities.
The MOM also distributes an information booklet
to employers of foreign domestic workers that
explains their rights and criminal penalties that may
be and have been applied against employers who
abuse their domestic servants. In November 2006,
MOM launched a program of randomly interviewing
foreign domestic workers working in Singapore for
the first time. The interviews enable MOM to determine
how well they have adjusted to their working
conditions and to reinforce workers’ knowledge of
their rights, responsibilities, and work place safety.
Singapore has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol.
SLOVAK REPUBLIC (Tier 2)
The Slovak Republic is a source country for women
and girls trafficked to Germany, Austria, the Czech
Republic, and Slovenia for the purpose of commercial
sexual exploitation. It is also a transit country
for women from Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria,
the Balkans, the Baltics, and People’s Republic of
China trafficked to the Czech Republic, Germany,
Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands,
the United Kingdom, Spain, Croatia, and Slovenia
for sexual exploitation. Roma women and girls
within Slovakia continue to be highly vulnerable to
trafficking.
The Government of the Slovak Republic does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so. Although some efforts
to implement Slovakia’s National Action Plan were
stalled in 2006 with the temporary vacancy and
reorganization of the National Anti-Trafficking
Coordinator’s position, Slovakia demonstrated
important progress. In December 2006, the Slovak
parliament passed a law allowing for a renewable
40-day stay for foreign victims. The government
also signed cooperation agreements with three
NGOs for a one-year pilot project to identify and
provide shelter to victims. The government should
ensure that police, customs officials, prosecutors,
and social workers at refugee camps and asylum
centers receive trafficking-specific training. The
government should also collaborate with NGOs in
identifying victims among persons in police detention
centers and immigration facilities.
Prosecution
The Government of the Slovak Republic demonstrated
progress in its law enforcement efforts during
the reporting period. The Slovak Republic prohibits
all forms of trafficking through Sections 179-181 of
its criminal code, which prescribes penalties ranging
from four to 25 years’ imprisonment. These penalties
are sufficiently stringent and are commensurate
with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as
rape. Police conducted 20 trafficking investigations
in 2006. The government prosecuted 32 trafficking
cases, compared to 30 cases in 2005. Convictions
were obtained against 18 traffickers in 2006, a
significant increase from four convictions in 2005.
Most convicted traffickers were given sentences ranging
from three to five years’ imprisonment. However,
two traffickers received suspended sentences and one
trafficker was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.
There were no reported cases of government
officials involved in trafficking. During the reporting
period, police worked with NGOs to receive training
on victim identification and assistance.
Protection
The government demonstrated modest progress in
its victim protection efforts during the reporting
period. The government provided money to several
NGOs for victim services and it assisted NGOs and
IOM to locate temporary shelter and provide health
services for approximately 10 victims it identified.
Approximately 50 additional victims were assisted
by NGOs and IOM. Police provided information to
potential victims about NGO-provided services and
the police anti-trafficking unit implemented procedures
to identify and refer victims to protection
services. However, some authorities lack the training
to identify victims and expect victims to identify
themselves. Victims are encouraged to participate
in investigations and prosecutions. There were
reports that unidentified victims were penalized or
deported; NGOs were rarely given access to identify
potential victims among detained women held in
police or immigration detention centers.
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