Sophia Launches in Slovakia:
Bringing Support to Victim-survivors of Domestic Violence in Slovak

On 9 October 2025, we launched in Slovakia, making chatbot sophia available for over 5.4 million people speaking Slovak. This is our first European Union country launch, in line with the mission of becoming the global helpline for everyone facing domestic abuse worldwide.

Hosted at the Representation of the European Commission in Slovakia, the launch marked our bold vision: that safety, dignity, and support must speak every language and be available at every corner of the world.

Led by the Institute for Labour and Family Research (IVPR) in collaboration with Spring ACT, the event brought together State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, Katarína Roskoványi; Ambassador of Switzerland to the Slovak Republic, Peter Nelson; Head of KMC, Barbora Burajova; Head of IVPR, Barbora Vavrova; as well as representatives from the Ukrainian Embassy, media, and civil society organisations. Combined with an inspiring panel, live presentations, and audience interaction, the event made a strong impression and generated national media coverage.

Domestic violence remains a serious and pervasive issue in Slovakia. Nearly 1 in 4 women in Slovakia have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15. Yet up to 85% of these cases go unreported.

Sophia is designed precisely to tackle these somber realities. Accessible via any browser and popular messaging apps, the chatbot operates around the clock, offering victim-survivors 24/7 anonymous support, without leaving a digital trace. In just a few clicks, people can learn about their rights, find nearby options to seek support, and even store potential evidence of abuse in a secure Digital Safe. 

What makes Sophia different is not only what she does, but how she does it. She listens first. She answers empathetically. She never judges. She was built with survivors’ input, not merely for them, reflecting their experiences, their fears, and their hope for a safe way out. 

“No one should feel alone in their struggle,”

said Rhiana Spring, the founder and the CEO of Spring ACT at the launch. She also added,

“The launch of Sophia in Slovakia marks another important step towards a world where no one has to suffer in silence.”

The success of Sophia’s Slovak launch is a story of collaboration between governments, researchers, and human rights advocates who believe that safety should be universal. The Institute for Labour and Family Research (IVPR) and its Coordination and Methodology Centre for the Prevention of Violence against Women played a pivotal role in ensuring that Sophia is adopted to Slovakia’s local resources and contexts.

Barbora Burajová, Head of IVPR, in her words captures what this launch stands for: a new face of technology, one that heals instead of harms. She shared:

“Technology increasingly permeates our lives, making access to information and to one another easier. Yet, many people face the misuse of technology for harassment or humiliation. We collaborated on making Sophia available in Slovak because Sophia represents the desired face of technology, it delivers facts and helps.”

Sophia’s expansion into Slovakia was made possible through the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Slovakia, as part of Switzerland’s broader commitment to innovation in human rights. At the launch, H.E. Peter Nelson, Ambassador of Switzerland, reminded the audience that technology carries moral weight: 

“Sophia is more than code. It is a commitment. It is a voice that answers when someone quietly whispers ‘help’. And it is a promise that we will use every available means, from legislation to innovation, to protect the dignity and safety of every person.”

The project also receives vital backing from the L’Oréal Fund for Women and the European Investment Bank Institute, whose continued support strengthens Sophia’s global reach in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries. 

Since its international debut in 2021, Sophia has held over 43,000 confidential conversations across 172 countries and now speaks 17 languages. It has been recognised by the United Nations, the European Investment Bank, and the President of Switzerland as one of the world’s most impactful uses of artificial intelligence for social good.

Now, with Slovak as its newest language, Sophia extends its digital embrace to yet another corner of the world, ensuring that every survivor, regardless of language or location, has access to trusted information and compassionate support. 

– Written by Mustapha Lawal and Ahona Azad Choyti