National analysis on violence against LGBTI+ children: Slovenia

Abstract

National analysis of violence against LGBTI + children in Slovenia. The research design for the Slovenian national report included 10 in-depth interviews, 72 online surveys and desk research. Our sample was selected on the basis of accessibility and expertise of our interviewees. All three members of the research team cooperated in recruiting the possible contributors and gathering data. In terms of experience working with LGBTI+ and gender non-conforming children and youth, we had a diverse sample. Some were experts on this knowledge, especially those working in LGBTI+ NGOs. Those having either personal experience (being LGBTI+) or having a family member that is LGBTI+ or gender non-conforming also seemed to have more knowledge and insight on this subject. The interviews were conducted between 28th of January and 26th of February 2020. They lasted from 45 minutes to 1h 13 minutes. Our sample was somewhat diverse, with age range of participants between 28 years and 60 years of age. 1 participant was 28 years old, 5 were in their 40s and 2 in their 50s. 7 interviewees identified as heterosexual, 1 as bisexual, 1 as gay, 1 as queer. 5 participants said they identify as a woman, 1 as a man, 2 persons as non-binary and 1 said she was assigned a female gender at birth but doesn’t identify with it so much. Except for the youngest participant, all of the interviewees were born in former Yugoslavia, of these 6 in Slovenia, 2 in Croatia and 1 gave no answer (presumably Slovenia). Six participants working in the areas of education, health and family are all employed in public services, while two participants from “public spaces” came from NGOs and two participants from media are employed in the private sector. Their professional roles were diverse. In the public services sector our respondents included: a psychologist working as a counsellor and assistant principal in elementary school, a teacher in secondary school, a gynecologist and sexologist working in a hospital, a nurse working in healthcare centre who is at the same time mother of an LGBTI+ person, asocial worker working with families in social work centre, a special pedagogue working in a special education school, but participating in our research as a mother of a trans child. In the NGO sector our participants were a social worker and master in gender studies working as a director of a Trans NGO and a master in social work working as a leader of a youth centre and programme coordinator. In the private sector (media) our two respondents were both journalists, the first in one of the biggest newspapers in Slovenia and the second, a director and editor of an online newspaper for children