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JRS Slovenia -
www.rkc.si/jrs
 

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.

 

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 @.


 
 

Jesuit Refugee Service Europe - Rue du Progrčs (Vooruitgangstraat) 333/2 - B-1030 Bruxelles - Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 250 32 20 - Fax: + 32 2 250 32 29 - Email: europe(a)jrs.net