SLOVAKIA is a country of origin and a transit country for victims of human trafficking, states the Interior Ministry in its report entitled the "National Action Plan to Fight Human Trafficking 2006 to 2007," the SITA news wire reported.
Slovak women are sold for prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation in foreign countries. The most frequent scenario is that they are lured abroad by adverts in newspapers for waitresses, bartenders, cleaners and au pairs.
Human trafficking victims are largely women aged 18 to 25, mainly coming from Slovak regions struggling with high unemployment, or low-income families. After arriving in the foreign country their travel documents are taken from them by force and they are forced into prostitution.
To a certain extent Slovakia is also considered a transit country for human trafficking victims. Victims from Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria and other countries pass through Slovakia to the Czech Republic and Austria.
In its report, the ministry admits that law enforcement bodies, ministries, state administration bodies and non-governmental organizations are not taking coordinated steps to solve human trafficking in Slovakia.
On the other hand the ministry has appointed a national coordinator in charge of the prevention and protection of victims of human trafficking.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
