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JRS Slovenia -
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Pollitical
Developments
On
21 December 2007 Slovenia joined the Schengen zone
allowing passport-free travel between 24 European
countries. As a result of socio-economic and political
changes, Slovenia is now a country where refugees,
migrants and asylum seekers would like to remain
permanently. This is particularly true for asylum
seekers from the former Yugoslavia – this group
represents the majority of refugees, asylum seekers and
irregular migrants in Slovenia.
The unresolved political situation in Kosovo continues
to be a concern for the surrounding countries in the
region and for the sustained integration of these
countries into the EU.
According to official government figures, 434 people
claimed asylum in 2007. This compares with 518 in 2006.
Refugee status was granted to 9 people in 2007.
Towards the end of 2007, the Slovenian government passed
a new asylum law aimed at harmonising the asylum and
immigration system with certain EU directives. A
coalition of NGOs – including JRS – lobbied the
Slovenian parliament to implement legislation beyond the
minimum EU standards. This was only partly successful.
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JRS Activities
On 20 June
2007 JRS Slovenia celebrated its fifth birthday. The occasion
was marked by a thanksgiving mass and the sharing of personal
refugee testimonies.
Reception and detention visits
During
2007, 19 volunteers completed the volunteer training programme.
JRS organised 4 seminars for the volunteers working in the
‘Asylum House’, the open reception centre in Ljubljana, and in
the Detention Centre in Postojna. Beside these seminars the
volunteers had regular monthly meetings dealing with different
issues encountered in their work.
JRS Slovenia visited the detention centre in Postojna twice a
week. The numbers varied but approximately 70 people were housed
in the centre at any one time. The main activities were
accompanying the detainees, talking and socialisng with them and
playing with the children. JRS Slovenia conducted research in
the centre as part of the European Commission project on
administrative detention in the 10 new Member States.
Volunteers and a JRS social worker visited people living in the
open centre four times a week. They organised a psychosocial
support group for residents along with creative workshops and
cultural activities for families, women and children. The JRS
social worker assisted young children with preparations for
future education. On 5 December 2007, JRS Slovenia organised
Christmas activities, including a visit by Santa Claus, for the
children in the open centre. Gifts were given to 40 children and
JRS filled the programme with songs and stories.
Integration and education
For the fifth consecutive year, JRS organised a week long
holiday for 28 women and children to Portorož, a city on the
coast. For the first time, families from the detention centre
were also able to participate. For many of them it was their
first visit to the sea.
JRS Slovenia organised 4 computer courses for 27 participants in
2007. Computer courses were offered for the asylum seekers and
refugees to assist with integration into Slovenian society.
Information and communication
During 2007, JRS Slovenia broadcasted a radio programme every
2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month on the Catholic radio station
Radio Ognjišče. The radio programme - Building a more Open
Society - focused on refugee and migration issues. At the end of
December the 100th radio show was broadcast.
Contact Details
Fr Robin Schweiger SJ, Country Director
Zrinjskega 9 - SI-1000 Ljubljana
Tel : +386-1 430 0058 - Fax : +386-1 430 0059
slovenia(a)jrs.net
To send an email, just replace the (a) with @.
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