Slovenia - 2012
Are there specialised bodies/agencies/mechanisms which receive, handle/investigate complaints in discrimination cases?
- Code:
- RED7
- Key Area:
- Anti-discrimination Legislation & Implementation
- Strand(s):
- Discrimination, Equality
| Short Answer |
Yes. The two relevant bodies are the Advocate of the Principle of Equality and the Human Rights Ombudsman. |
| Qualitative Info |
Following the Race Equality Directive, the Advocate of the Principle of Equality was established as an equality body in Slovenia. Right now it consists only of one person, a civil servant. In accordance with the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment adopted in April 2004 and amended in June 2007, the Advocate of the Principle of Equality functions within the Office for Equal Opportunities in order to examine cases of alleged violations of the prohibition of discrimination, and to provide persons with assistance on issues of discrimination. In accordance with Article 11.a of the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment, the Advocate is a special civil servant position, subject to rules in the area of civil servants in state bodies and the system of salaries in public sector, except for the matter regulated differently with this act. The Advocate is nominated by the Government for the period of five years, upon the proposal of the Director of the Government Office for Equal Opportunities and on the basis of public competition. Since the principle of equal treatment and the ban on discrimination is incorporated in the Constitution as the first provision among those ensuring fundamental human rights (Article 14), the Human Rights Ombudsman is another body available for lodging informal complaints and is an independent and unbiased forum for informal protection available to individuals in relation to state authorities, local self-government authorities and bearers of public authority. Any person who believes that his/her human rights or fundamental freedoms (including the right to equal treatment) have been violated by an act or deed of a body may lodge a petition with the Ombudsman to start proceedings, and the Ombudsman can also institute proceedings on his own initiative. The procedure is free of charge.
Sources: Zakon o uresničevanju načela enakega obravnavanja – Uradno prečiščeno besedilo [Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment – Official Consolidated Version], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 93/2007. Zakon o Varuhu človekovih pravic [Human Rights Ombudsman Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 71/1993, 15/1994. |
| Groups affected/interested | Migrants, Refugees, Roma & Travelers, Muslims, Ethnic minorities, Religious minorities, Linguistic minorities, Majority, Asylum seekers, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Persons with disability |
| Type (R/D) | Extremism - organised Racist Violence, Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Anti-semitism, Islamophobia, Afrophobia, Arabophobia, Anti-roma/zinghanophobia, Religious intolerance, Inter-ethnic, Intra-ethnic, Nationalism, Homophobia, On grounds of disability, On grounds of other belief |
| Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas | Policing - law enforcement, Employment - labour market, Housing, Health and social protection, Education, Culture, Media, Internet, Sport, Political discourse -parties - orgs, Political participation, Anti-discrimination, Anti-racism, Integration - social cohesion, Daily life, Religion |
| External Url | http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200793&stevilka=4600 |
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