Ljubljana, 28 April (STA) - The Ombudsman and representatives of NGOs cautioned against widespread intolerance in Slovenia as they held a news conference on Thursday as part of an EU campaign dubbed "For Diversity. Against Discrimination".

Tatjana Greif of the lesbian association SKUC-LL, insisted that Slovenian legislation might defend minority groups against discrimination in principle, however in practice the situation is rather worrying.

She is notably concerned about discriminating and hostile attitude assumed by top ranking officials. "The erased, Roma, gays and lesbians, and women have become a firing ground for sordid political battle," Greif maintained.

She is convinced that the politicians' intolerant vocabulary has worsened after the government of Janez Jansa came into power. "Intolerance has become a matter of course that people simply shrug off", she is worried.

Inacio Bintchende of the Ljubljana African Centre, who himself was a victim of racist attack, is meanwhile convinced that the discrimination in Slovenia is systematic.

Cautioning against widespread intolerance in Slovenia, Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek though added that the country is no exception in Europe. Unfortunately, many political parties all across Europe are using hate speech more and more, Hanzek said.

In the framework of the campaign, an award for journalist achievements in protecting minority rights was given to Maja Olup, a reporter for a local newspaper from Slovenske Konjice.