The Roma Community Act Adopted by the National Assembly of Slovenia

Policy Response DateMarch 30, 2007 Country: Slovenia General Type: Equality/Integration Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Roma & Travelers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Housing, Health and social protection, Education, Culture, Political participation

Related Case Studies

Following the constitutional provisions, 16 years after the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia and hesitation with adoption of the general law on Roma community, the Roma Community Act was adopted by the National Assembly on 30.3.2007. The events with forced eviction of Roma family Strojan in October 2006 influenced the Government to accelerate procedure of adoption. The act defines the scope of special rights of the Roma Community, the jurisdiction of state authorities and the local community authorities, and the organisation of the Roma community in order to implement their rights and obligations as set out by the Act.

The Roma Community Act specifies that, in order to overcome the development lag and for successful inclusion in society, members of the Roma community, in addition to the rights and obligations of all Slovene citizens, shall have additional rights specified by sectoral laws, in the fields of education, improving living conditions, culture, health and social security and the right to participate in decision making in public matters that concern the Roma.
The act also determines the organisation of the Romany community in the Republic of Slovenia on a national and local level. The act specifies the creation of a Roma Community Council as the representative body of the Roma Community at state level., to serve as an interlocutor with state bodies.

Office for National Minorities of the Government of Slovenia, Legal Protection of Roma Community, http://www.uvn.gov.si/si/zakonodaja_in_dokumenti/zakonska_zascita_romske_skupnosti/. Date of access: 8.11.2011.

Office for National Minorities of the Government of Slovenia, Overview on Roma Community, http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/minorities/roma_community/. Date of access: 8.11.2011.

Fundamental Rights Agency, Thematic Study on Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers, March 2009, http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Slovenia_en.pdf. Date of access: 8.11.2011.

Institute for Ethnic Studies, Legislation on Roma community, http://www.inv.si/romsvet/zakonodaja25757.html?p=11. Date of access: 8.11.2011.