On 8 November 2024, in Paris, France, Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih took part in the seminar of the Network of Independent Bodies for Handling Complaints Against Police Procedures (IPCAN) of which the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (the Ombudsman) has been a member since 2022. https://ipcan.org/ _blank is an informal network for exchange and cooperation between independent structures responsible for external control of the police and other security forces.

The first part of the meeting of the IPCAN network was devoted to a discussion of police procedures with persons with disabilities, while the second part was devoted to the use of new technologies by the security forces. In his presentation, Deputy Ombudsman Šelih presented some of the cases handled by the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia and related to the work of police officers with persons with disabilities. It is encouraging that there are not many such complaints in the practice of the Slovenian Ombudsman. The common conclusion for all of them is that human personality and dignity must be respected, especially in these procedures. In particular, there is a need for training and education of police officers for such procedures.

During the exchange of views on the discussed topic, members of the IPCAN network also prepared a declaration calling on national and European authorities to take positive measures to consistently respect the dignity and other rights of persons with disabilities. The declaration will be published following coordination.