Upon World Environment Day observed on 5 June, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina warns that the preparation of regulations in the field of environment and spatial matters is still too frequently not in accordance with the right of the public to participate in the adoption of environmental regulations. “If we truly want to protect the environment, we must first include all stakeholders in its protection. Laws and international acts, including the Aarhus Convention, foresee such procedures, they only need to be followed and the set democratic rules no longer ignored,” the Ombudsman clearly argues.

The Ombudsman adds that by disregarding their recommendations in the field of the environment, the bodies responsible cause irreversible damage to the environment and people’s health: “Ignoring our recommendations also presents a digression from the principle of the rule of law.” As a negative example he presents the preparation of a regulation in accordance with Paragraph 7 of Article 52 of the Game and Hunting Act lasting more than two decades. “The same example of ignoring our recommendations is the repetition of our recommendations connected to the rehabilitation of the Anhovska, Soška, Zgornja mežiška dolina, and Celjska kotlina. All these cases, primarily the rehabilitations, reveal the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration and participation of both the local communities and businesses in the search for solutions,” clearly states the Ombudsman.

Ombudsman Svetina also accentuates that caring for the environment is the foundation for ensuring human rights for our and future generations. The recent observation of the International Day for Biological Diversity and World Bee Day, which was a great accomplishment proclaimed on the initiative of Slovenia, additionally remind us of the importance of working towards preserving different species with all due responsibility and consequently also of ensuring the right to health, healthy food, and a healthy and safe living environment.