UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000456

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR GITIP, EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SI
SUBJECT: KARITAS JOINS SLOVENIA'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORT


1. (U) Pol-Econ Chief, Pol Assistant, and Pol Intern met 17
July with Alojzi Stefan, Secretary General of Karitas
Slovenia to discuss Karitas' role in anti-trafficking
efforts. Karitas recently won a tender from the Ministry of
Labor to provide secure shelter and assistance to trafficking
victims in Slovenia. In June 2006, Karitas took on this role,
replacing another Slovenian anti-trafficking NGO, Kljuc.


2. (U) To meet the demands of this new role, Karitas has
acquired two new employees, including one professional social
worker. Karitas has also tapped the experience and expertise
of present employees and volunteers who have taken on new
responsibilities in the development of this project. Karitas
has set up a safe house, and established three locations for
short-term emergency housing. Since beginning its work, the
organization has successfully assisted three victims with
food, shelter, counseling, translation services, and
transportation.


3. (U) Stefan described the role of Karitas as a specific and
limited, but essential element within the great number of
forces mobilized to stop human trafficking. He believes that
Karitas will be most effective by concentrating its energy on
providing quality service and assistance to victims, which he
sees as a natural extension of the programs it has been
running for the past 15 years. Karitas will also strive for
normalization of the system of victim assistance and plans to
reapply for the tender after this year. Stefan is hopeful
that the Ministry of Labor will offer a two or three year
tender in the future and noted that a sequence of 1-, 3-, and
5-year government contracts is usually followed. Stefan
believes that greater normalization will follow with a
meaningful, long-term investment in the project.


4. (U) Though Karitas will focus its energy on meeting the
immediate needs of victims while other organizations take on
prevention, education, detection, and prosecution, Stefan
also emphasized the value of cooperation between agencies.
Stefan believes that the largest impact against trafficking
can be made when all agencies collaborate to share
information, experience, and knowledge. Karitas has already
experienced beneficial cooperation with the police and court
system, and Stefan has also planned a meeting this fall with
Katjusa Kodele Kos of the anti-trafficking NGO Kljuc. Stefan
and Kos will focus on building cooperation and complementary
services without duplication. Stefan sees one possible area
of coordination in the Kljuc ability to provide long term
services through their Reintegration Program, which may be
one place for victims to go when they leave Karitas'
short-term emergency program.


5. (U) In addition to the value of coordination between
different agencies within Slovenia, Stefan noted the vast
potential of international coordination. As a part of an
international network, Karitas Slovenia has collaborated with
other Karitas organizations in Europe. For instance, when two
of the victims in the Karitas program returned home to
Slovakia, they were met with the continued assistance of
Karitas Slovakia, thanks to the coordination of the two
organizations. Stefan has also sought help and advice through
the Network of Christian Organizations Against Trafficking
(COATNET) and plans to continue cooperation with these
networks and others, possibly through the organization of
region-wide trainings.


6. (U) Stefan welcomed the guidance and support of the USG
and U.S. NGOs in continuing anti-trafficking efforts in
Slovenia, Europe, and around the globe.
ROBERTSON