Human Trafficking in [the Slovak Republic] [other countries]
Street Children in [the Slovak Republic] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [the Slovak Republic] [other countries]
 

Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

Slovak Republic (Slovakia) [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

Slovakia or the Slovak Republic [map] is located in central Europe and is bordered by the Czech Republic (W), by Austria (SW), by Hungary (S), by Ukraine (E), and by Poland (N). Bratislava is the capital. Slovakia became an independent nation on Jan. 1, 1993, when Czechoslovakia was dissolved. Despite its modern European economy and society, Slovakia has a significant rural element. About 45% of Slovaks live in villages of less than 5,000 people, and 14% in villages of less than 1,000.

The Slovak Republic is a source, transit, and limited destination country for women and girls from Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Balkans, the Baltics, and China trafficked to Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Croatia, and Slovenia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Men from Vietnam were trafficked to Slovakia for the purpose of forced labor. Roma women and girls from Slovakia are trafficked internally for sexual exploitation. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2008 [full country report]

CAUTION:  The following links have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in the Slovak Republic. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - Girls from Slovakia are trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and Slovakia is a country of origin, transit and a destination country for such victims of trafficking. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has expressed concerns over several issues related to children. In particular, the transit of trafficked children through Slovakia for the purpose of pornography, prostitution and sex tourism has drawn attention to the need for protecting children.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS – The International Organization for Migration estimated that between 100 and 200 persons are trafficked annually from or through the country, mainly for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Most of the victims trafficked through the country came from the former Soviet republics (especially Moldova and Ukraine) and Balkan countries. Victims were typically trafficked through the Czech Republic or Austria to Western Europe. Victims were typically between the ages of 18 and 25, from various social backgrounds, but particularly from areas with high unemployment. Some experts alleged that Romani women and persons raised in state institutions, because of their socioeconomic situation and less freedom of mobility, were more vulnerable to being trafficked by organized criminal gangs. Romani women were reportedly more at risk of being trafficked by known and trusted people from their communities. Other high‑risk groups included men and women looking, sometimes illegally, for seasonal work abroad and those who were ill-informed of the potential dangers.

Traffickers lured women with offers of employment, often relying on personal connections with women. Activists who worked with the few victims forced to work while transiting the country reported that most were placed as prostitutes or as exotic dancers in nightclubs. Such activity was concentrated on the border with Austria and close to Ukraine and along trucking routes with a prevalence of nightclubs. Traffickers closely monitored victims, withheld their documents, and used violence in order to ensure their compliance. Some victims allegedly were threatened with violence or even death if they attempted to escape.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2000

[29] Noting that the State party has signed and is in the process of acceding to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption of 1993, the Committee is concerned at the absence of clear legislative measures in this area

[49] In line with the observation of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography, the Committee is concerned that Slovakia has become a transit country for the transport of children for pornography, prostitution and sex tourism.

Training Roma to combat human trafficking

Through a contribution of the Norwegian and Finnish governments, the Council of Europe is organising training courses to prevent human trafficking of Roma from Albania, Moldova and Slovakia.

Trafficking In Human Beings In Slovakia - Country Assessment [PDF]

INTRODUCTION - TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS - Trafficking in women first appeared in Slovakia after 1989. The new freedom of movement was generally positive but, on the other hand, it also coincided with some negative phenomena such as growth of trafficking in human beings mainly for the purpose of sexual exploitation. According to the police statistics (which provide figures only in terms of “number of cases”), trafficking in women from Slovakia is continuously growing. Also, due to the lack of job opportunities in Slovakia and the poor economic situation, labor migration, legal or illegal has been on the rise especially among young people. Therefore there is an essential need to take necessary steps in order to alleviate the problem as well as to adopt adequate preventive measures, which would eliminate the risks connected with working abroad.

Freedom House Country Report - Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Status: Free

Human Rights Overview by Human Rights Watch – Defending Human Rights Worldwide

Stop Violence Against Women – Country Page

UNICEF documents sexual exploitation of children at German-Czech border

The study says it has proof of the existence of organized international trafficking in children for sexual exploitation. ”Children from other regions of the Czech Republic and from Central and Eastern European States are trafficked to the border regions, or from there to Germany, in order to be sexually exploited. Children from remote areas of the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and other countries such as Moldova, Ukraine, Lithuania and the Russian Federation were observed and questioned. Their statements and, in particular, the interviews with adult prostitutes, made it clear that gangs of pimps systematically drag minors to the German-Czech border regions and force them into prostitution,” it says.

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Human Trafficking in [the Slovak Republic] [other countries]
Street Children in [the Slovak Republic] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [the Slovak Republic] [other countries]