Prevention of trafficking in human beings
18 October – EU Anti-Trafficking Day
The EU Anti-Trafficking Day was dedicated by MDS TZL to raising awareness about human trafficking, with an emphasis on sexual abuse and raising awareness among potential users of services provided by victims of human trafficking. As part of the project, a contractor carried out activities to raise awareness among vulnerable groups and the general public. The target group for awareness-raising activities was selected from among the residents of several specialised special needs educational institutions. The activities were carried out at three such institutions, in Višnja Gora, Jarše - Ljubljana and Kranj. Discussions were organized on the risks of sexual exploitation of young people, the methods used to recruit potential victims in person and via social networks, the links between prostitution and human trafficking, and the assistance available. The general public was made aware of the issue through a 30-second TV spot and posts on social media. In addition, an expert meeting was organized on 18 October 2024 at the City Hall in Ljubljana, which was attended by, among others, the national coordinator for combating trafficking in human beings. The meeting was attended by 84 participants from the professional community, 10 speakers, and 9 media representatives. Events to mark the EU Anti-Trafficking Day took place from 18 to 25 October 2024, with activities continuing until 14 November 2024, when the video spot was shown during the last home match of the Nations League. The project was funded by the Ministry of the Interior and implemented by the Društvo Ključ association.
On EU Anti-Trafficking Day, Caritas Slovenia prepared a press release, which was published on its website, on Facebook, and by the press office of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference. The press release was also summarized or published by the media.
Raising awareness of the general public
On the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Ministry of the Interior published a press release on its website and social media channels linked to the United Nations campaign "Leave no child behind in the fight against trafficking in persons," which calls for stronger action to end child trafficking. In its statement, the Ministry of the Interior pointed out that one in three victims of human trafficking worldwide is a child. Like adults, children are exposed to various forms of trafficking, including forced labour, illegal adoption, exploitation for criminal activities, online and sexual abuse, and recruitment into armed forces. In low-income countries, children are most often victims of forced labour, while in developed countries, sexual exploitation is the most common form of trafficking. The report also states that the United Nations calls on countries to take comprehensive action to combat child trafficking through coordinated efforts at the national and international levels. Countries must take appropriate measures to protect children, improve legislation and law enforcement, and allocate more resources to combat child trafficking. Efforts to prevent this phenomenon should focus on addressing its root causes, such as poverty and inequality, and particular attention should also be paid to child trafficking in the context of migration.
On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Caritas Slovenia sent a press release to media outlets, which some of them published on their channels. The press release was also published on its website, on Facebook, and by the press office of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference. On this occasion, an expert from the project Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking – Crisis Accommodation also gave a statement to Radio Ognjišče and an interview for an RTV Slovenia news program. After World Day, the newspaper Domovina published a three-page interview on human trafficking and preventive measures.
Awareness raising among risk groups
Raising the awareness of adolescents
In accordance with the 2023–2024 Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, the MNZ SPBTL continued to carry out systematic workshops aimed at raising awareness among children and young people of the dangers of trafficking, forms of trafficking, and appropriate action and self-protective behaviour. Based on a three-year plan, divided by region, the 2023/2024 workshops were carried out in primary schools in the Primorsko-Notranjska, Obalno-Kraška, Posavska and South-Eastern Slovenia regions and in secondary schools in the Central Slovenia, Gorenjska, Goriška and Zasavska regions. In 2024/2025, awareness-raising was organised in primary schools in the Podravska, Pomurska, Savinjska and Koroška regions and in secondary schools in the Obalno-Kraška, Primorsko-Notranjska, Posavska and South-Eastern regions. As part of preventive activities, 181 teachers and other educators were given information and guidance on the topic.
1550 workshops were carried out in 2023, i.e. 66 in primary and 86 in secondary schools, attended by 3,237 students and 181 teachers. The analysis of surveys completed by the students at the end of the workshops showed that the aim of the awareness-raising was achieved, as nearly all participating students acquired new information (96%) enabling most of them (75%) to identify trafficking in human beings.
The Društvo Ključ Association held 113 workshops and discussion sessions for 2,549 children and young people in Slovenian secondary schools, educational institutions, youth homes, and residential groups to raise awareness among young people. They provided more than 1,134 information sessions for 3,205 vulnerable individuals who are employed in high-risk occupations or are applicants for international protection.
Within the contract on co-financing the "Providing assistance to victims of human trafficking – Crisis accommodation" project, Caritas Slovenia held 24 preventive workshops, attended by 654 students (as well as teachers, parents, group mentors and volunteers) from six statistical regions (Gorenjska, Podravska, Obalno-kraška, Central Slovenia, Pomurska and South-Eastern Slovenia). As part of this project, 15,000 copies of preventive material were published to warn young people about the dangers and pitfalls of human trafficking. The material was distributed to young people at workshops. They also responded to requests from stakeholders, ranging from legal entities to individuals, who asked for cooperation in the form of surveys and interviews for the preparation of seminar papers and theses.
Preventive action in terms of awareness-raising and the prevention of trafficking in human beings in the Roma community
The Government Office for National Minorities continued to implement activities within the SIFOROMA6 project.
Raising awareness among and training of the professional community
The Criminal Police Directorate at the General Police Directorate (hereinafter: the GPU UKP) continuously trains both criminal investigators and local police officers. In this context, attention is paid to identifying various forms of trafficking in human beings and identifying the indicators of potential victims of trafficking and its perpetrators and to competencies in subsequent specific procedures concerning the treatment of victims and conduct of pre-trial proceedings.
Nine such training courses were conducted in 2024. On 12 and 13 February 2024, training was provided to criminal investigators from regional criminal police divisions who investigate offences of trafficking in human beings. Twenty-four criminal investigators participated in an advanced training course. The topic of trafficking in human beings was presented to ten future criminal investigators in a specialist criminal investigation course. On 15 and 29 February 2024, training was provided for 40 police officers from the Centre for Foreigners. On 19 September and 11 October 2024, two full-day workshops were held for employees of the Savinjsko-Šaleška and Celje Social Work Centres (40 participants). In addition, a lecture was given to representatives of the Association of Social Work Centres and the police (around 100 participants) on 21 March 2024. On 19 November 2024, joint training for border police officers (21 participants) was carried out in cooperation with UNHCR.
The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants continued its regular training of social workers and experts on various forms of violence, vulnerability, and human trafficking. In addition, two people attended a train-the-trainer course on human trafficking organized by the European Union Agency for Asylum. They are now qualified to deliver such training to other staff. The Društvo Ključ Association, which runs the project of informing applicants for international and temporary protection about the dangers of human trafficking, gender-based and sexual violence (PATS), conducted specialist training for the employees of the Postojna accommodation centre for unaccompanied minors. Legebitra also provided training on providing assistance to LGBTIQ+ persons for employees at all locations of the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants.
On 3 December 2024, the MNZ SPBTL held a training session on trafficking in human beings for employees of the Financial Administration (FURS). Participants learned about current trends in human trafficking and new legislation, with an emphasis on the problem of identifying forced labour or labour exploitation. The training took place at the General Financial Office of FURS and was attended by 72 employees. On 8 October 2024, a remote training course was organized via videoconference for administrative unit employees, particularly those working as registrars, as they may come across forced marriages when officiating weddings. The training was attended by 219 people. In addition to registrars, the training was also attended by employees who issue single residence and work permits to third country nationals. On 12 December 2024, training was provided for employees of the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia, focusing on forced labour or labour exploitation as one of the purposes of human trafficking. Two documents were also presented: Guidelines for Labour Inspectors – Identifying Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings and Handbook for Employers – Preventing Forced Labour. The training took place in Olimje and was attended by 130 employees.
On 17 and 18 December 2024, the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior organised internal training on combating trafficking in human beings and identification in international protection procedures and timely action. The training was attended by 18 employees of the Migration Directorate working in the field of international protection procedures and family reunification. The purpose of the training was to equip decision-makers and persons employed in the Operational Affairs Section of the International Protection Division who come into contact with victims or potential victims of trafficking in human beings (applicants for international protection) with the knowledge and skills necessary to detect and address signs of trafficking in human beings, identify victims and prepare and conduct interviews with victims or potential victims of trafficking in human beings.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs made an indirect contribution to preventing and combating trafficking in human beings by providing training for economic advisers and young diplomats on socially responsible behaviour as part of economic diplomacy, in the field of combating corruption, in line with the Ministry's integrity plan. A representative of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption participated in the training of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs staff on the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, as part of the lower diplomatic examination in April and May 2024, and at the annual meeting of economic advisers in June 2024. Trafficking in human beings is part of the consular service's regular preparatory training that staff need to undergo before being posted to diplomatic and consular missions abroad. Human trafficking was also discussed at a consular symposium. Consular officers were presented with specific examples that they may encounter in their work. The issue of human trafficking was also addressed as part of the consular examination, thereby ensuring that consular officials are able to successfully identify cases indicating potential human trafficking in their work. Diplomats posted abroad who deal with consular issues were trained in 2024 to identify cases indicating potential human trafficking and to conduct procedures with foreigners in accordance with Slovenian law. The procedures were conducted with particular sensitivity towards the most vulnerable participants and consistent detection of and response to possible human trafficking. In the fight against human trafficking, the diplomatic and consular missions informally check the frequency and forms of these cases among their contacts with other diplomatic and consular missions and representatives of the host country.
As part of the programme for the implementation of public powers of the Social Chamber of Slovenia for the period from 1 to 31 December 2024, financed by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (hereinafter: MDDSZ), the Social Chamber of Slovenia held a seminar for employees and external staff of social work centres on 5 November 2024, focusing on work with foreigners, refugees, migrants, and victims of human trafficking. The first part of the seminar focused on human migration and the integration of immigrants, as well as the network of institutions, organizations, and programs supporting migrants. In the second part of the seminar, participants learned about migrant statuses, legal frameworks, and migrants' rights. They focused on young migrants and unaccompanied children, with an emphasis on children who are victims of human trafficking, and various forms of exploitation of these children, and learned how to help them. This was followed by an interactive part with seminar participants on a case study, during which they raised some dilemmas that arise in their work and are related to the competences of social work centres. Challenges and good practices in helping migrants integrate and in relation to unaccompanied children, with a focus on child victims of human trafficking, were also presented. The seminar was attended by 52 people.
The Government Office for National Minorities held a professional lecture entitled Identifying early and forced marriages in the Roma community and taking action in such cases as part of the SIFOROMA6 project on 12 April 2024 in Ljubljana. The lecture was intended for court-appointed experts in relevant fields (clinical psychology, family medicine, family psychology, social work, child and adolescent psychiatry).
In 2024, the Društvo Ključ association organized 36 training courses for professionals, which were attended by 622 people, and 16 training courses for young experts, which were attended by 564 people from several faculties. As part of Campaign 75 to mark the EU Anti-Trafficking Day, a professional conference was also organized on child abuse for prostitution in Slovenia, which was attended by more than 100 experts in the field.
In 2024, Caritas Slovenia signed an agreement with the Logatec Health Centre on cooperation in providing psychiatric help to victims of human trafficking. To ensure psychiatric help for victims of human trafficking, it also established contact with a psychiatrist at the Polje Psychiatric Clinic.