On 12 April 2023, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina was in Nova Gorica, where he and his colleagues were available to talk to anyone who believed that their rights have been violated and the Ombudsman can help. Four people applied for a meeting. The Ombudsman reports that similar issues were debated as are encountered elsewhere in Slovenia. Thus, the Ombudsman and his colleagues were informed of the issue of raising and caring for a person with special needs, the issue of acquiring Slovenian citizenship and a bank account, the question of waste removal in a smaller settlement, and one of the unions also presented itself.

Ombudsman Svetina talked to the Mayor of Nova Gorica Samo Turel about the work of the municipality, the role of the institution of the Ombudsman, institutions’ accessibility, cooperation with civil society, bodies’ duty of disclosure, and the importance of directing people to the right places where they can get help they need. The Ombudsman opened his 22nd Ombudsman’s Corner in Nova Gorica.

After his meeting with the Mayor the Ombudsman said: “I had a very constructive and pleasant conversation with the Mayor. We found that cooperation is good when we approach the urban municipality of Nova Gorica, since they reply in due course and provide a detailed response. We are pleased with our cooperation.”

Together with the Mayor the Ombudsman opened the Ombudsman’s Corner in the lobby of the municipality building. At the opening the Ombudsman said: “We intend to open an Ombudsman’s Corner in every municipality we visit. This is a stand from which anyone can take a printed complaint form and fill it out. The stand also offers the Ombudsman’s reports and presentation brochures, including the one in plain language for all those who have difficulties understanding texts. Those who are more skilled on the web can also find Ombudsman’s Corners on the websites of the municipalities. Today we also opened Ombudsman’s Corners in the municipalities of Ajdovščina, Vipava, and Šempeter-Vrtojba.”