In the good year after being appointed and elected as the Human Rights Ombudsman, I regularly familiarised myself with the values, which the late Dr Janez Drnovšek represented to the domestic and foreign public. I especially appreciate his efforts for the respect of human rights, care for equality between people, tolerance and respectful attitude towards all nations and cultures. He added topics to the function of the president of the republic, which represented a step away from everyday politics, in the direction of searching for different solutions when it was not possible to achieve them by ordinary means. He proved his decisiveness and upright statesmanlike poise with clear statements and interventions, when he assessed that things were going in the wrong direction. As a human being he also proved that an individual could at any time decide to make a significant change in their lifestyle - and he also did that himself. His life’s work will undoubtedly affect my function and the lives of us all. I express my deepest condolences to his loved ones,

Dr Zdenka Čebašek-Travnik
Human Rights Ombudsman