Offices for equal opportunities, minorities and religious communities abolished

Single Incident Alert DateApril 16, 2012 Country: Slovenia Address: Erjavčeva 15, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia General Type: Discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Extremism - organised Racist Violence, Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Anti-semitism, Islamophobia, Afrophobia, Arabophobia, Anti-roma/zinghanophobia, Religious intolerance, Nationalism, Homophobia, On grounds of disability, On grounds of other belief, Anti-roma/ romaphobia, Xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Refugees, Roma & Travelers, Muslims, Ethnic minorities, Religious minorities, Linguistic minorities, Majority, Asylum seekers, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Persons with disability, Africans/black people, National minorities Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement, Employment - labour market, Housing, Health and social protection, Education, Sport, Political participation, Anti-discrimination, Anti-racism, Daily life, Religion
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

On April 1, 2012 the Government Office for Equal Opportunities in Slovenia was closed down, pursuant entering into force of the newly adopted Act amending Public Administration Act. Its staff of twelve people, including the Advocate of the Principle of Equality (the equality body in Slovenia) were transferred to the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. The Office for Equal Opportunities, established in 2001, was primarily responsible for promoting equal opportunities and gender equality, but at the same time it was also responsible for preparation of legislative proposals for the purpose of transposition of EU directives in the non-discrimination field, including the Race Directive. This responsibility is now transferred to the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. The duties of equality body under the Race Directive will continue to be performed by the Advocate of the Principle of Equality, now under the authority of the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs.  

The Office was closed down as part of austerity measures adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, under which several other government offices were closed down as well, including the Office for Religious Communities and the Office of National Minorities. None of the staff was laid off yet, however, this might change as the Government is forecasting mass layoffs in the public administration system. It is also not yet clear how this will affect the work of the Advocate of the Principle of Equality. This body was already very weak under the previous rules, as it consisted only of one civil servant. 

 

Source:

http://www.uem.gov.si/en/

http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/

http://www.uvs.gov.si/en/