Varuh ДЌlovekovih pravic

Organisational Units and HRO Council

On 29 September 2017, the Act Amending the Human Rights Protection Act (ZVarCP-B) was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia (No. 54). It entered into force on 14 October 2017. The adopted amendments establish the position of the Ombudsman in the Republic of Slovenia (Ombudsman) and thus further strengthen the level of respect for human rights, which is in the interest of individuals as well as the state and society as a whole.The mandate of the Ombudsman is amended both on the basis of amendments and on the supplementary law, which enables the fulfillment of t. me. Paris Principles. For the institution to comply with the supplementary provisions of the law, which will allow the Ombudsman to obtain other A status under t. me. The Paris Principles on the Status of State Human Rights Institutions of 1993. They were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. These principles set out other tasks in addition to addressing individual initiatives, in particular dealing with general human rights tasks (regulating, promoting or promotion, awareness, education, etc.).

The amended law defines the establishment of the Ombudsman's Council as an advisory body to the Ombudsman, which operates within the Ombudsman's institution, but according to the principle of professional autonomy. The Council consists of the President and 16 members (hereinafter: members). Of these, seven are members of civil society, three representatives of science, two representatives of the government, the Advocate for Equality, the Information Commissioner, the National Assembly and the National Council, one member each. The legal provisions regarding the Council (Article 50.a of the Act) came into force on 1 June 2018.

The law defines two internal organizational units of the Ombudsman: the State Preventive Mechanism (which has already been established) and the Center for Human Rights, which performs broader tasks and does not deal with initiatives. Tasks include, in particular, promotion, information, education, training, preparation of analyzes and reports in individual fields of promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, organization of consultations on the exercise, promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, cooperation with civil society, trade unions and others. providing general information on the types and forms of complaints to international bodies about violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, participation in international organizations and associations at European and global level working in the field of realization, promotion and development of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The legal provisions regarding the Center for Human Rights (Article 50.b of the Act) entered into force on 1 January 2019.

An additional purpose of the adopted amendments was in the legal formal systemic regulation of child advocacy, which operates within the Ombudsman institution, as it had previously operated as a project for ten years. The Ombudsman - Voice of the Child pilot project has been implemented by the Ombudsman since 2007. The Ombudsman also confirmed the need to provide a specially selected and qualified person to perform the function of the Ombudsman, who can significantly change the course of events. namely in favor of a child whose views, wishes, as well as benefits are not overlooked and disregarded in proceedings before the authorities. The advocate offers the child psychosocial support, acquaints him with the procedures and activities in a way that suits him, and together they look for suitable solutions. The child's advocate accompanies the child before the bodies and institutions that decide on his / her rights and benefits. Representing and defending a child in various social situations is otherwise a natural function of parents or. legal guardians, but in situations where the parents fail in any way in this position or their interests conflict with the interests of the child, the protection of the child's interests depends on the "advocacy" actions of others.