SLOVENIA: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000718 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR/PGI, G-ACBLANK, G/TIP, EUR/NCE, DS/IP/EUR E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2017 TAGS: KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT REF: SECSTATE 146300 ¶1. (SBU) Slovenia has continued to make progress in 2007 in combatting trafficking in persons (TIP) through its actions on several fronts, per reftel. In September 2007, the Slovene court in Novo Mesto convicted four people for TIP-related offenses, including two citizens of Slovakia. Moreover, prosecutors have filed indictments against four suspects in a TIP-related case, though while awaiting trial the suspects are not in detention. Law enforcement officials have completed investigations of five cases of human trafficking and have sent reports on these cases to the state prosecutor for further action. State prosecutors have launched four ongoing investigations into two separate TIP cases involving two and nine suspects respectively. Overall, the number of TIP cases in Slovenia have declined slightly on a year-to-year basis. ¶2. (SBU) Slovenian law enforcement officials at all levels have received special trafficking awareness training. All police officials underwent TIP awareness training, focusing particularly on monitoring efforts in border areas, in the course of six training sessions offered throughout 2007. The Police Education Center initiated TIP awareness training as part of its curriculum, including a five-day training course that brings together crime inspectors and NGO officials. State prosecutors also have received special TIP awareness training in 2007, along with Slovene diplomats posted abroad. The Ministry of Interior's 2008-2009 action plan includes continued TIP awareness training for public officials and administrators. Post does not have information on TIP awareness training for judges. ¶3. (SBU) One of the two Slovenes convicted in September 2007 of a TIP-related crime is serving a sentence of four years and nine months, while the other was convicted of assisting and was given probation and released from custody. The two Slovak citizens convicted of TIP-related offenses were sentenced to prison for one year and three months and returned to Slovakia, where Slovakian courts must first rule that the conviction and sentencing were lawful before the prison terms are served in Slovak jails. ¶4. (SBU) The GOS has sponsored several programs to increase public awareness of TIP issues and to assist victims of TIP-related crimes. In 2007, the government ran one program and provided funds for two other NGO programs that assisted victims of human trafficking by providing safe houses and expediting the receipt of residence permits and legal asylum when warranted. The GOS is planning to continue and expand these programs as part of its 2008-2009 action plan. The Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Affairs will distribute leaflets in schools and other public facilities to inform potential TIP victims, and the Ministry of Education is working to include TIP awareness in the national school curriculum by 2009. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2008 will provide funds to an NGO to produce TIP-awareness pamphlets that will be distributed at Slovene embassies. The Ministry of Interior has included links to the TIP-related portions of the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Human Trafficking on its Web site. In addition, government officials have given numerous public statements, speeches and interviews on human trafficking issues via a variety of media outlets and settings. Post does not have information about the GOS's consideration of conducting a domestic demand reduction campaign for commercial sex acts. COLEMAN