The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (Ombudsman) has prepared an updated information brochure, The Elderly Have Their Rights Too, which provides some key information regarding the rights and position of the elderly in Slovenia. At the Ombudsman, we help elderly persons better understand their rights through various activities, raise awareness among the general public about the hardships and violations they face, and promote respect for all people, regardless of age.

The Ombudsman has observed that, despite their rich life experience, older people often do not talk about their hardships because they do not know that their rights are being violated or they do not know how and where to turn. We want to empower older people so that they can confidently protect themselves, their rights and their dignity. It is important that they know what is theirs and that in the event of injustice or mistreatment, they know how to turn to the right people or institutions that can help them. In addition to key information about the rights and position of older people in Slovenia, the brochure also raises awareness about ageism and violence against the elderly and offers useful information on where older people can turn in case of hardships and problems, and also talks about the rights brought by the new Long-Term Care Act.

The information brochure was first published last year, on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, and this year we have updated and reissued it. Just this month, the brochure was published as a supplement to the magazine Vzajemnost, which is intended for older people, and was thus distributed to as many as 23,000 addresses. It is also available online. The Ombudsman will also present the brochure at the upcoming Days of Intergenerational Coexistence at the Gospodarsko razstavišče, which will take place on 11 and 12 June 2025. The brochure is part of a broader project to promote the rights of older people, implemented by the Human Rights Centre at the Ombudsman.

At the Ombudsman, we strive for an inclusive and supportive society, in which older people are recognised as an active, creative, and connected part of the community, and in which a dignified old age is everyone's right. No one should be left alone in need – everyone has the right to respect, help, and a secure life.