The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (the Ombudsman) is still reviewing the unsuitable living conditions in the Roma settlement Dobruška vas in the Škocjan municipality.

On the basis of the on-site visit, the Ombudsman has established that the living conditions in the Roma settlement represented a serious threat to the lives and health of people living there, and to the health of the neighbouring residents, due to the possibility of the spread of infectious diseases. Inadequate municipal utility services in the Roma settlement Dobruška vas may also pose a permanent threat to the environment.

The Ombudsman assessed that the conditions for the intervention of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia from the third paragraph of Article 5 of the Roma Community Act have been fulfilled, and on 24 March sent the Government of the Republic of Slovenia a recommendation to adopt and execute, in the shortest possible time and due to such irregular circumstances, all necessary measures to ensure acceptable healthy living conditions in the Roma settlement Dobruška vas. The Ombudsman proposed that the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, as one of the temporary measures, immediately provide delivery of a cistern of drinking water to the affected area.  

In addition, the Ombudsman proposed that the Škocjan municipality examine the conditions in the Roma settlement Dobruška vas and adopt short- and long-term measures toward improving the conditions in this settlement within its competences.