The Ombudsman's Office is pleased with the report on the state of human rights in Slovenia that was presented at the Council of Europe (CoE) last week. Deputy Ombudsman Jernej Rovsek told STA on Wednesday that conclusions of the report are similar to those in the Ombudsman's annual reports that were often disregarded by the Slovenian authorities.

The CoE Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles stressed in the report that Slovenia has done a lot in the last decade, but there are still areas that need attention such as the status of the Roma, foreigners, disabled persons and people from the former Yugoslavia.

The report notes that the Roma community does not have the same rights as the Italian and Hungarian minorities. The status and rights of the Roma should be written down in a special piece of legislation, according to Gil-Robles.

The human rights commissioner has said that Slovenia should start implementing national programmes aimed at improving the situation of the Roma, and urged the authorities to earmark funds for the reform of institutions helping disabled people.

Rovsek said that Slovenia would have to redefine its minority policy, which is outdated and out of touch with the situation as it is at the present. It is necessary to recognise the status of minorities to those that have become minorities after the break-up of Yugoslavia, he noted.

Gil-Robles also noted in the report that Slovenia should set up a national institution that would conduct minority protection and fight against all forms of discrimination. "We do not have an institution that would co-ordinate activities and monitor all minority issues in Slovenia," Rovsek said.

After receiving the report, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry has asked all competent ministries to submit documents that would serve as a basis for a government position on the issue. STA was told by the Foreign Ministry that the cabinet would compile a report in the coming days.