The Identifying, Assisting and Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking and/or Sexual Abuse in Asylum Procedures in the Republic of Slovenia (PATS) project informs people seeking international protection about trafficking in human beings. Individual interviews are conducted in a language understood by the applicant. The purpose of the project is to raise the awareness of people who do not recognise the dangers and results of human trafficking, and to use a suitable approach to encourage them to actively participate in preventing various forms of exploitation. The overall objective is to identify more effectively vulnerable groups (potential victims of human trafficking, sexual or gender-based violence) in need of special treatment.
For children and adolescents, information is provided in an appropriate way that is adapted to their age and stage of development. In the event of suspicion that a person is a potential victim of trafficking in human beings, the UOIM informs the competent institutions.
By the end of 2023, information was provided to 457 people individually and 2,534 in a group setting. Activities were carried out at the annexes of the Vič Asylum Centre in Logatec and at the Postojna Student Home.
The programme is co-implemented by the Ključ Society. In addition to the activities targeting the primary groups, professional training sessions will be conducted for staff working in accommodation centers. The project also includes activities aimed at supporting the working group appointed under the Standard Operating Procedures for Prevention and Response in Cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Persons under the International Protection Act. The Ključ Society has issued flyers with important information for vulnerable groups in 17 languages on their website.