Representatives of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (the Ombudsman) hosted three experts in the field of juvenile law from France, who are in Slovenia on a study visit on legislation in the field of juvenile delinquency and victims of crime. The French guests are visiting Slovenia to gain insight into the judicial system for the treatment and protection of children in Slovenia.

The Deputy Ombudsman, Dr Jože Ruparčič, who is responsible for children's rights at the Ombudsman, began by briefly outlining the main topics that the Ombudsman deals with in the field of rights of children and highlighted the good international cooperation, including in the network of children's ombudsmen ENOC. He paid particular attention to peer violence. "Such violence is a symptom of the society we live in. It affects the whole of society and it is an resposibility of adults, who must set an example for children and send a clear message to society that violence is unacceptable," he stressed. He also spoke about children's mental health, stressing in particular the attitude of adults towards children. He considered that the Ombudsman's task is, among other things, to promote non-violent communication in order to strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. He also presented the Child advocacy, which had placed 50 child advocates in 2024 alone, and stressed the importance of respecting Articles 12 and 13 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which provide for the right to freedom of expression.

Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih, also Head of the National Preventive Mechanism (DPM), presented the institution of the Ombudsman and its possibilities for action, and spoke in more detail about the work of the NPM, which, in cooperation with NGOs, exercises powers under the Optional Protocol against Torture and Other Cruel Treatment, ratified in 2006. He presented the system of visits and monitoring of institutions where persons are deprived of their liberty. "The DPM is dedicated to strengthening the protection of these persons from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In 2024 alone, it carried out 72 visits to places of deprivation of liberty, most of them unannounced," Šelih pointed out. The DPM notes that, in principle, the living conditions and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty have improved, and there is good cooperation with NGOs and experts in the implementation of the mandate.

The DPM members presented to the guests from France the findings and some recommendations of the Slovenian DPM from their visits to institutions where children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems, mental health problems or who have already encountered the penal system are placed. They were also informed about the situation in five centres for training, work and care in Slovenia, which house children and adolescents with mental and physical disabilities.

Some examples of good practice where presented, such as the opening of a child and adolescent psychiatry ward in 2019 and a special ward for children with the most severe forms of emotional and behavioural disorders in Dornava in 2021. Examples of good practice include smaller residential units, such as the Draga House in CUDV Draga, where small groups of adolescents with severe forms of emotional and behavioural disorders live in an environment that promotes learning and responsibility.

DPM has made several recommendations for systemic arrangements in the care of children and adolescents, but the key recommendation remains: the institution should not be the first or only answer, but the system should allow for early help in the community. Only by working in a coherent way across different departments will it be possible to ensure that all children are treated safely and appropriately.