A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Slovenia on 6-9 June 2022 as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The focus of this evaluation round of the Convention is on trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. Prior to the visit, the Slovenian authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the third evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA verified how the main recommendations made in its second evaluation report have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation held consultations with Dr Branko Lobnikar, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Ms Tina Princes Damjanovič, National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator, as well as officials from the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government Communication Office, Office for National Minorities and Government Office for the Care and Integration of Migrants. Furthermore, GRETA’s delegation held meetings with representatives of the Police, the National Investigative Office, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office and the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office, as well as of the Supreme Court and the Higher Court.
The GRETA delegation also met Mr Miha Horvat, Deputy Ombudsman, and members of the National Assembly.
Separate meetings were held with representatives of non-governmental organisations and international organisations.
During the visit, GRETA’s delegation visited the Children’s House, the Asylum Centre in Ljubljana and a student dormitory accommodating unaccompanied children in Postojna.
The visit was carried out by Mr Kevin Hyland and Ms Svala Ísfeld Ólafsdóttir, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Roemer Lemaitre of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Slovenian authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be published in early 2023.
