2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Center for Women Policy Studies

S L O V E N I A / S O U T H A F R I C A
184
Prevention
The Slovak Republic continued efforts to prevent
trafficking during the reporting period. IOM
provided sensitivity training for police officers. The
Border and Alien Police monitored the border for
evidence of trafficking. The government tripled the
shelter capacity for unaccompanied minors who
enter Slovakia illegally; such measures may help
to prevent these vulnerable minors from being
targeted by traffickers. The government continued
to operate a phone line and website where inquirers
can verify the legitimacy of Slovak employment
recruiting agencies.
SLOVENIA (Tier 1)
Slovenia is primarily a transit and, to a lesser extent,
a source and destination country for men and
women from Ukraine, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova,
Bulgaria, Colombia, the Dominican Republic,
Turkey, Albania, and Montenegro trafficked for
purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Girls
were trafficked to Slovenia from Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Serbia for the purpose of sexual
exploitation.
The Government of Slovenia fully complies with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
The government demonstrated a significant
increase in law enforcement and victim assistance
efforts during the reporting period. Slovenia successfully
prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced traffickers
for the first time since 2002. Slovenia also provided
more than $50,000 in funding for victim assistance
and took steps to guarantee consistent funding for
designated NGO-run trafficking shelters. The government
should continue to vigorously investigate,
prosecute, convict, and sentence traffickers; take steps
to ensure prosecutors and judges receive trafficking
awareness training; ensure that a majority of convicted
traffickers serve some time in prison; and consider
conducting a domestic demand reduction campaign
for commercial sex acts.
Prosecution
The government significantly increased its law
enforcement efforts in 2006. The government
prohibits all forms of trafficking in persons through
Article 387(a) of its criminal code, which prescribes
penalties ranging from six months to ten years’
imprisonment. These penalties are sufficiently
stringent and commensurate with those prescribed
for other grave crimes. Authorities conducted three
investigations in 2006, compared to seven in 2005.
Authorities conducted six prosecutions in 2006, up
from two in 2005. Seven traffickers were convicted
in 2006. Four were given sentences ranging from 18
months to five years’ imprisonment and three served
no time in prison. More than 800 police officers
received training from a government-funded antitrafficking
NGO in 2006. Slovenia actively worked
and shared data with other governments on trafficking
investigations through EUROPOL and Interpol.
Protection
The Government of Slovenia increased its victim
assistance and protection efforts during the reporting
period. The government provided adequate
funding for several anti-trafficking NGOs to provide
shelter and rehabilitation programs for victims. In
2006, these NGOs assisted 43 victims or potential
victims. The government continued to implement
its formalized victim referral mechanism in cooperation
with NGOs, referring 21 victims to NGOs
in 2006. After identification, victims were granted
a 90-day reflection period. Victims were encouraged
to participate in trafficking investigations and
prosecutions; victims who participate are eligible to
stay in Slovenia for the duration of the trial. Victims
were not punished for unlawful acts committed as a
direct result of being trafficked.
Prevention
The Government of Slovenia continued its
prevention efforts during the reporting period. It
funded an NGO to provide trafficking awareness
classes for students in elementary and secondary
schools, reaching 545 students and parents in
2006. Slovenia continued to monitor its borders
for evidence of trafficking. The government’s
inter-departmental working group published and
disseminated a report detailing the government’s
anti-trafficking efforts. Slovenian troops assigned
to peacekeeping missions in Kosovo continued to
receive trafficking awareness training.
SOUTH AFRICA (Tier 2 Watch List)
South Africa is a source, transit, and destination
country for trafficked men, women, and children.
South African girls are trafficked internally for the
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and
domestic servitude. Women and girls from other
African countries are trafficked to South Africa and,
occasionally, onward to Europe for sexual exploitation.
Thai, Chinese, and Eastern European women
are trafficked to South Africa for debt-bonded
commercial sexual exploitation. Mozambican and
Malawian boys and young men are trafficked to