Slovenia

National Summary

The number of female migrants living in Slovenia has increased six-fold between 1995 and 2016, with the majority of women coming from the former Yugoslavia, China, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic. Many migrant women have been trafficked through and to Slovenia for purposes of sexual exploitation and are often forced into sex work through exploitative relationships with their employers who push them into financial dependence. Migrant women without legal residency are also at a higher risk of domestic violence 

The education level of migrant women in Slovenia is one of the lowest in Europe – only 50% have received no higher than primary school education. The majority of migrant women work in the domestic and care sector and often in vulnerable employment. The EU and the Ministry of Education and Sport of Slovenia offer free language courses to migrants and their children – however, not everyone is entitled to these courses and their enrolment relies heavily upon their residence permits. 

Through the FATIMA Project and Red:GLOW, WONDER has worked with Fundacija Sursum in Slovenia to provide language courses to migrant women, promote active citizenship, and provide young women with the knowledge and skills needed to be a leader in their community.