Source: http://www.red-network.eu/?i=red-network.en.countries&id=15&view=racismAtlas&s=EQUALITY&sc=12&iid=118
Timestamp: 2015-04-28 00:30:27
Document Index: 554161332

Matched Legal Cases: ['§19', '§7', '§1', '§2', '§5', '§7', '§2', '§4', '§3', '§ 3', '§1', '§7', 'Art.2', 'Art. 5', 'Art. 5', 'Art. 64', 'Art. 1']

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In Slovenia there are two relevant bodies in the field of equality and non-discrimination. The Advocate of the Principle of Equality functions within the Government's Office for Equal Opportunities in order to examine cases of alleged discrimination and to provide assistance. The Human Rights Ombudsman is an independent and unbiased body for informal protection in relation to state authorities, local self-government authorities and bearers of public authority.
Slovenian Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment guarantees equal treatment irrespective of personal circumstances such as gender, ethnicity, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstance. Discriminatory acts are prohibited in every area of social life. Advocate of the Principle of Equality and the Human Rights Ombudsman handle complaints in discrimination cases.
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.
External Url http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200793&stevilka=4600
No. In general, data on race and ethnicity of a person are consiered to be sensitive data. Collection of such data is only allowed with a consent of an individual concerned.
Data collection is regulated by the Personal Data Protection Act, which determines that data can be collected only if permitted by law. It sets special conditions for collecting sensitive personal data.
According to this law, sensitive personal data are data on racial, national or ethnic origin; political, religious or philosophical beliefs; trade union membership; state of health; and criminal records (Article 6, §19). Biometric characteristics are also sensitive personal data if their use makes it possible to identify an individual in connection with any of the aforementioned circumstances. To summarize, the data protection law generally prohibits the processing of sensitive data but it does allow, under necessary and special circumstances, the data to be processed in order to assert or oppose a legal claim (one of the possibilities when data collection is allowed is if this is necessary in order to assert or oppose a legal claim, as stipulated by Article 13, §7 of this Act). An implementing act titled the Rules on Methodology of Keeping the Register of Personal Data Collections further regulates the procedures concerning administering personal data collections.
Zakon o varstvu osebnih podatkov [The Personal Data Protection Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 86/2004. In criminal cases reported to the Police in relation to the crime of incitement of hatred, violence and intolerance (Article 297 of the Penal Code) the Police keeps a record on cases in which racial violence was concerned, on th basis of facts gathered in the investigation.
External Url http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200794&stevilka=4690
Yes. The adoption of positive measures is provided for with Article 6 of the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment.
Article 6 of the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment states that positive action consists of temporary measures, defined by law, designed to prevent a less favourable position for persons with a particular personal circumstance or to compensate for a less favourable position (§1). Further, the law stipulates two different forms of positive action: i) positive measures which intend to give priority to persons with a particular personal circumstance and are used in cases when there is an obvious under representation of persons with a specific personal circumstance; and ii) incentive measures which provide special incentives or benefits to person in a less favourable situation (§2). The areas to which the provisions apply are not mentioned, however, concerning the areas protected by this law, in all these areas positive action measures can take place, as well as in relation to any personal ground, including racial or ethnic origin.
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. Groups affected/interested
Yes, however, limited use is made of the possibility to introduce positive measures. Special measures are adopted only with regard to protection of the two national minorities (Hungarian and Italian), by awarding some special rights concerning the political representation of the Roma ethnic group, and by some special measures concerning employment of people with disabilities.
Special measures are adopted only with regard to protection of the two national minorities (Hungarian and Italian), by awarding some special rights concerning the political representation of the Roma ethnic group, and by some special measures concerning employment of people with disabilities.
The position of the two officially recognized national minorities is regulated by the Constitution, ratified international documents, legislation and statutes of the municipalities. The Italian and Hungarian national minorities enjoy some special rights in addition to all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Roma are not considered a national minority at the same level as Italians and Hungarians, but are considered a special ethnic community with 'specific ethnic characteristics', such as language, culture, etc.
Even though the Roma community is not offered similar self-governance as the Hungarian and Italian National Community it is organized in the Roma Union of Slovenia. This is an umbrella organization for Roma associations. As the Sinti community in Slovenia does not consider itself as part of Roma community, while the authorities consider them exactly that, they have no official venue of their own through which they could participate in the process of improving of their situation. Article 65 of the Constitution stipulates that the status and special rights of the Roma living in Slovenia are regulated by law. Government social programs provide measures aiming at ensuring the equality of the Roma. One of the most important and still current is the Government program for assisting Roma people from 1995. On 30 March 2007 Roma Community Act was adopted. It provides for establishment of Council of Roma Community of the Republic of Slovenia which represents the interest of Roma community in a dialogue with state bodies. It consists of 21 members (14 representatives of Roma Union of Slovenia and seven representatives of local Roma communities). The act also sets financial obligations of the Republic of Slovenia and its local self-governing communities for guaranteeing special rights of Roma community. In the legislation there are additional provisions concerning Roma in twelve different organic laws. One of them, the Local Self-Government Act, stipulates that Roma people, who are 'autochthonous' (indigenous) to a particular area shall have at least one representative in the municipal council (Article 39, §5). The term 'autochthonous' refers to peoples who have lived in Slovenia for centuries, in a territory in which these peoples do not consider themselves to be foreigners or immigrants. The Act was put to constitutional review due to distinguishing between those Roma who are autochthonous and those who are not. The complaint was filed by Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia. With the ruling No. U-I-15/10-13 of 16. 6. 2010 the Constitutional Court confirmed the conformity of the act with the constitution.
The Local Self-Government Act lists 20 municipalities which were obliged to ensure that the Roma community has a representative in the local council until regular local elections in 2002. Now all municipalities have a Roma representative in the local council. This distinction between Roma communities on the basis of being autochthonous is in fact discriminatory as was also noted by the UN Human Rights Committee, Amnesty International and the European Roma Rights Centre. The Local Self-government Act also provides for committees on Roma issues as working bodies of the local councils, although these are not obligatory.
Another measure for promoting the position of the Roma community is included in the Act on Radio Television Slovenia, which entered into force on 12 November 2005 and stipulates that gradually Roma radio and television shows are to be included on the public channel, RTV. According to Article 3 of this act, public service includes the making, preparation, and broadcasting of radio and television programs for the Roma ethnic community.
According to Article 3 of the Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Act, which entered into force on 5 November 2005, one of the goals of regional development is to include developing areas populated by both autochthonous minorities and Roma communities. It also stipulates that a Roma representative should be a member of the Regional Development Council in regions populated by Roma communities (representatives to be appointed by the Roma community). Article 25 of the Organization and Financing of Education Act sets competences of the Council of Experts of the Republic of Slovenia for General Education in adopting supplementary (additional) programs for Roma children. Article 81, §7 provides resources to be allocated from the national budget for various activities and projects (funds for writing and financing schoolbooks, resources for educating the Roma and partial funding for their education in primary schools).
The special rights of Italian and Hungarian national minorities are either collective rights, awarded to the whole community, or individual rights awarded to members of the national minority. The Constitution guarantees autochthonous Italian and Hungarian minorities the right to freely use their national symbols and the right to establish organizations to foster economic, cultural, scientific and research activities, as well as activities associated with the mass media and publishing.
In accordance with the Constitution and the Special Rights for Members of the Italian and Hungarian National Minorities in the Field of Education Act, members of national minorities have the right to education in the minority language and the right to adopt and to promote education. This act defines geographic areas where bilingual schooling is compulsory. The same act stipulates that members of the Italian or Hungarian national minorities must be among the teachers who perform consultancy and supervisory work in educational organizations (Article 28). The Constitution guarantees the right to foster contacts with the wider Italian and Hungarian communities living outside Slovenia, and with Italy and Hungary respectively. The State shall give financial support and encouragement to the implementation of these rights (Article 64). The Italian and Hungarian ethnic communities shall be directly represented at local level and shall also be represented in the National Assembly (Article 64, Paragraph 3). Self-governing communities established by the Self-governing Ethnic Communities Act is important for the development of culture, language and schooling and implementation of special rights of national minorities. Roma communities are not offered similar self-governance or the representative in the National Assembly. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities Act was adopted in 2004 and amended in 2005 and 2006. Article 2 states that the aim of the act is to increase the opportunities for people with disabilities to be employed and to create the circumstances for them to equally participate in the labour market by eliminating obstacles and creating equal opportunities. Ths act established mandatory quotas of employed people with dissabilities. Instead of employing people with disaabilities employers have an option of paying into the fund available for the employers to cover the costs of reasonable accommodation for adapting the workplace for people with disabilities. Sources:
Human Rights Ombudsman Annual Report 2008, p. 47.
Zakon o romski skupnosti v Republiki Sloveniji [The Roma Community Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 33/2007.
Zakon o lokalni samoupravi [The Local Self-government Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 57/1994, 14/1995, 26/1997, 70/1997, 10/1998, 74/98.
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2384. Zakon o Radioteleviziji Slovenija [The Radio and Television Slovenia Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 96/2005.
Zakon o spodbujanju skladnega regionalnega razvoja – Uradno prečiščeno besedilo [Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Act – Official Consolidated Version], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 83/2003.
Zakon o posebnih pravicah pripadnikov italijanske in madžarske narodne skupnosti na področju izobraževanja [The Special Rights for Members of the Italian and Hungarian National Minorities in the Field of Education Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 12/1982.
Zakon o zaposlitveni rehabilitaciji in zaposlovanju invalidov [Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 63/2004, 100/2005 and 114/2006.
See other countriesSee indicator history Is legal support for victims available from public agencies/bodies? Is there access for victims to assistance and justice? Yes, in principle legal support is available for victims to access procedures and justice. This is ensured both by the tasks allocated to the Advocate of the Principle of Equality and by the Free Legal Aid recognizing the right to free legal aid in court procedures.
For discrimination cases additional support is ensured by the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment, in the part which defines the tasks of the Advocate of the Principle of Equality. In accordance with this Act, 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. Sources:
Yes. The Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment provides for the shift of the burden of proof.
The Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment states in Article 22, §2 that if a person who claims discrimination states facts in judicial and administrative proceedings, as well as before other competent bodies, that justify the claim that the ban on discrimination (including harassment) has been violated, the alleged offender must prove that he or she did not violate the principle of equal treatment or the ban on discrimination in the case being heard. Further, Article 6, §4 of the Employment Relationship Act states that when a candidate or employee claims facts during a dispute which justify the assumption that the prohibition of discrimination (including harassment), the burden of proof rests with the employer. Article 45, §3 has the same provision. In criminal law, the burden of proof lies with the public prosecutor or private prosecutor since it would be inappropriate if it were the defendant who had to prove that there was no basis for their conviction. Furthermore, such a rule would be contrary to the principle of presumption of innocence. In practice, not problems are reported with regard to the implementation of the rule of the shift of burden of proof.
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. Report on legal measures to combat discrimination (Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC), Country report 2010 Slovenia, http://www.non-discrimination.net/content/media/2010-SI-Country%20Report%20LN_FINAL.pdf.
See other countriesSee indicator history Can associations, organisations or other legal entities, who have a legitimate interest, engage, either on behalf or in support of the complainant, with his or her approval, in any judicial and/or administrative procedure concerning discrimination? Yes. Even though associations cannot represent the victims in judicial or administrative procedures, there are ways available to do it, such as third party intervention or legal representation by an individual who works for such association. Qualitative Info
The Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment in Article 23 states that non-governmental organizations shall have the right to take part in judicial and administrative proceedings initiated by alleged victims of discrimination. Non-governmental organizations are all private non-profit entities, which in Slovenian can be established as associations, institutes or foundations. Due to the lack of specificity of this provision the NGOs’ involvement however depends on other more specific provisions in procedural legislation, as described under the next question.
The Civil Procedure Act, which is used for civil procedures, and also when appropriate for the proceedings at the Constitutional Court or at the Labour and Social Court, states that a third party who has a legal interest (meaning a personal interest based on statute or other regulations) can intervene in support of one of the parties at any time until the end of the proceedings. Such third party is a so-called “side intervenient” (stranski intervenient). This is the only case in which an NGO can officially get involved in support of the party to the court procedure.
Different rules are in place for an entity to get involved in the proceedings on behalf of the party to the court procedure. In civil procedures the only legal entity that can represent the party to the procedure is a law firm. Individuals who can represent the party are attorneys and lawyers who passed the state legal exam, and in county court procedures also anybody with a legal capacity. However, these are not legal entities but individuals. In criminal proceedings, the victim can be represented by anyone with legal capacity. In administrative proceedings, according to the General Administrative Procedure Act, the party to the procedure can be represented by anyone with legal capacity, who would in this case act on behalf of the party. It can be an individual, and it can also be a legal entity, however, in the latter case the NGO has to appoint an individual who will act on behalf of the party. Namely, according to Article 54, § 3 of the General Aministrative Procedure Act, a professional organization which is recognized in certain activities directly connected with the relevant rights and duties of the party may represent this party during administrative proceedings. The party is also entitled to invite an expert in special circumstances, which could be relevant for NGOs knowledgeable in issues of anti-discrimination. This expert may provide explanations and legal advice on in support of the party concerning legal matters but is not entitled to represent the party (Article 61 of the General Administrative Procedure Act).
In disciplinary procedures it is important to mention the role of trade unions in disciplinary procedures. Namely, according to Article 179 of the Employment Relationship Act, an employer must notify the employee’s trade union of a disciplinary procedure in writing; if there is no such trade union or if the employee is not a member of it, the workers' council or the trade union organizer shall be notified. Furthermore, Article 208 of Employment Relationship Act stipulates that a trade union whose members are employed by a specific employer may appoint or elect a trade union organizer to represent the trade union before the employer. If no trade union organizer is appointed, the trade union is represented by its chairman. Trade union organizers have the right to exercise and protect the rights and interest of their members vis-à-vis the employer.
According to the Constitutional Court Act, societies and other associations do not have the right to challenge regulations that interfere with the legal status of their members or other persons. They only have legal interest if the regulation in question interferes directly with their rights, legal interests or their status as a legal person. The Constitutional Court exceptionally recognizes a society or association’s legal interest in filing a petition in the name and in the interest of its members when it has been established with the purpose for which the action has been filed – in this case there is a requirement of chartered aims (for example the Society of Erased Persons). The Helsinki Monitor for Human Rights, for example, cannot represent the petitioners. Pursuant to Article 86 of the Civil Procedure Act, which is applied mutatis mutandis concerning representation in proceedings before the Constitutional Court, only a natural person can be authorized to represent a party. A legal entity can represent a party if it is a law firm. The situation is different with the informal procedure before the Advocate of the Principle of Equality. There the NGOs can act either on behalf in in support of the victim of discrimination. There are no specific rules on whether an entity has to be registered to act on behalf of or in support of the victim in the procedure before the Advocate. Source:
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 splošnem upravnem postopku [The General Administrative Procedure Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 80/1999, 70/2000, 54/2002, 73/2004.
Zakon o pravdnem postopku – Uradno prečiščeno besedilo [Civil Procedure Act – Official Consolidated Version], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 73/2007. Zakon o ustavnem sodišču [The Constitutional Court Act], Official Journal of Republic of Slovenia, No. 15/1994, 64/2001.
Zakon o delovnih razmerjih [Employment Relationship Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 42/2002 and 103/2007.
Actio popularis is not regulated in the Slovenia law. The only procedure in which an association could could act even if there is no victim yet is the informal procedure before the Advocate of the Principle of Equality. However, this would not constitution an action (a lawsuit).
The rules for class actions are identical to the rules with individual procedure. All the victims have to be identified, the only diference is that there is more than one. The only special provision which is in place for class actions concerning identical cases is the so-called exemplatory action, which is similar to the pilot judgment procedure conducted by the European Court of Human Rights. In such examplatory procedure the court may first decide in one exemplatory case which is identical to all other cases, and the decision in this first case affects the decision in all the other similar cases. This procedure is defined in the area of employment and social rights and is governed by the Labour and Social Courts Act (Article 40). Zakon o delovnih in socialnih sodiščih [Labour and Social Court Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 2/2004 and 10/2004.
Yes, in the Act Implementing the principle of Equal Treatment Act and in the Employment Relationship Act there are provisions for financial compensation and for restitution of rights in cases of discrimination. These are applied in practice, although case law in anti-discrimination and torts is scarce.
In accordance with Article 22, §1 of the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment, in cases of violations of the prohibition of discrimination discriminated persons may start judicial and administrative procedures and have the right to compensation in accordance with the general principles of tort law.
Article 6, §7, of the Employment Relationship Act stipulates the employer’s liability for damage in accordance with the provisions of tort law, when the employer infringes an anti-discrimination provision.
Articles 230 to 233 of the Execution of Judgments in Civil Matters and Insurance of Claims Act regulate the reinstatement of an employee to his position of employment after this has been awarded following a legal procedure. Article 233 states that an employee who proposes to return to his position of employment could ask the court to decide that the employer has to pay him sums of money that correspond to his wage from the end of court proceedings until his reinstatement (the nature of the damages is pecuniary, and there is no statutory upper limit). The sum payable is stipulated by the court and should amount to the level of the employee’s wage as if he had been working. The employee’s right to demand past wages to be paid is not affected by this regulation. If the court decides partially in favour of the employee, the employee can seek full compensation before the court. Sanctions for legal persons which are responsible are described in Section 3.1.2.
Zakon o delovnih razmerjih [Employment Relationship Act], Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 42/2002, 103/2007.
See other countriesSee indicator history Are there any problems concerning the implementation of national legislation prohibiting discrimination? Yes. The main problem is the lack of powers of the equality body (the Advocate of the Principle of Equality) to implement the provisions of the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment and the lack of clear definition of the role of the inspectorates.
The main problem is the lack of powers of the equality body (the Advocate of the Principle of Equality) to implement the provisions of the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment and the lack of clear definition of the role of the inspectorates.
The situation of equality body: 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. This creates an issue of the lack of independence and a question whether the advocate being in such position is capable of independent assessment of alleged discrimination for which a government body is responsible. The Advocate does not have its own budget, but is financed from the budget of the Office for Equal Opportunities. The Advocate has no investigative powers and it therefore cannot establish the facts of the case when statements of the two parties to the procedure differ to the extent when it is not possible to establish what really happened. In such case discrimination cannot be established or denied. The Advocate does not have the power to impose sanctions. It can only issue recommendations to the perpetrator, and if the latter does not respect them, the Advocate can forward the case to the competent inspectorate which then has to power to impose sanctions. The problem with this system is that inspectorates (e.g. health inspectorate, market inspectorate, school inspectorate...) do not consider themselves competent for issue of discrimination stated in the Act Implementing the Principle of Equal Treatment, since their competence is not explicitly defined in this act, if the offence of discrimination is not at the same time defined in the legislation (e.g. health, market, education legislation) they are competent for supervizing. Sources:
Report on measures to combat discrimination (Directives 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC), Country report 2010 on Slovenia, http://www.non-discrimination.net/content/media/2010-SI-Country%20Report%20LN_FINAL.pdf
External Url http://www.non-discrimination.net/content/media/2010-SI-Country%20Report%20LN_FINAL.pdf
Yes. On 31 January 2011 an Interdepartmental working group of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued an Analysis of Institutional Arrangement of promotion of Equality and Protection from Discrimination in the Republic of Slovenia. Qualitative Info
On 31 January 2011 an Interdepartmental working group of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued an Analysis of Institutional Arrangement of promotion of Equality and Protection from Discrimination in the Republic of Slovenia. The report found that Slovenia only partly meets the requirements of the international law in this field and that a reform of institutions and legal framework is needed. The analysis showed that the system of competent bodies is scattered, that these competent bodies do not perform all the tasks that they should according to the international obligations (e.g. they do not monitor systematically the situation of marginalized groups, they do not prepare analyses and publish reports on their situation and do not monitor the effectiveness of adopted measures). Moreover the protection of rights of some vulnerable groups does not fall within the scope of competencies of any of the state bodies (e.g. LGBT community, the elderly). The analysis did not review only obligations imposed by the EU directives, but also by other international obligations, such as Paris Principles, obligations deriving from the Convention on the rights of people with disabilities, Convention on the rights of a child and Convention on elimination of discrimination against women.
Analiza institucionalne ureditve spodbujanja enakosti in varstva pred diskriminacijo v Republiki Sloveniji [Analysis of Institutional Arrangement of promotion of Equality and Protection from Discrimination in the Republic of Slovenia], 31 January 2011, http://www2.gov.si/upv/vladnagradiva-08.nsf/IMiS?OpenAgent&3947BC30D254A3AFC1257829004F0F2E&1 Groups affected/interested
External Url http://www2.gov.si/upv/vladnagradiva-08.nsf/IMiS?OpenAgent&3947BC30D254A3AFC1257829004F0F2E&1
The data show a higher unemployment rate of third country nationals comparing to the general population. Households of third country nationals have a lower annual income comparing to nationals. Slovenian trade unions do not work on recruiting or supporting the rights of minority groups, but there are trade unions supporting migrant workers. In general citizenship is not a condition for employment in public sector, but is a condition for nomination in a specific title.
There are no legal restrictions for migrants and minorities to become members of trade unions.
There are no legal restrictions for migrants and minorities to become members of trade unions. The trade unions do not bar migrants from becoming their members on the grounds of nationality. The statute of the Confederation of trade unions of Slovenia Pergam states that any worker who concluded an employment contract for full time or part time work or for a permanent or temporary employment may become a member of this trade union (Article 16). The statutes of trade unions which are members of the Union of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia also allow all workers to become members, and their membership does not depend on their nationality. Source:
Statute of Confederation of trade unions of Slovenia Pergam, available at http://www.sindikat-pergam.si/images/uploads/statut_kss_pergam_2011_(končni).pdf. Groups affected/interested
External Url http://www.sindikat-pergam.si/images/uploads/statut_kss_pergam_2011_(končni).pdf
According to the Civil Servants Act, Slovenian citizenship is in general not a condition for employment in public sector. However, according to the Civil Servants Act, citizenship is a condition for nomination in a specific title (naziv) after passing a required professional exam (Article 88). On the other hand, the guideline at the web site of the Ministry of Public Administration states that for administrative positions citizenship is always required.
According to the Civil Servants Act, Slovenian citizenship is in general not a condition for employment in public sector. Indeed when job openings are published in the private sector, citizenship is not stated as a condition. Article 6 of the Employment Relationship Act prohibits any kind of direct discrimination and indirect discrimination in access to employment on various personal grounds, including race, ethnicity and any other personal ground which includes nationality, except in cases of genuine occupational requirements.
However, according to the Civil Servants Act, citizenship is a condition for nomination in a specific title (naziv) after passing a required professional exam (Article 88).
In public sector there are two types of work posts: administrative work posts and support/technical posts. If the employees at administrative work posts are expected to perform public tasks (issue decisions, implement administrative procedures etc.) they need to be nominated into a specific title (secretary, undersecretary, counsel etc.). For this, citizenship of Slovenia is a requirement. In practice this means that citizenship is a requirement for promotion in the public sector. Source:
Civil Servants Act (Zakon o javnih uslužbencih), Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 63/2007 and 65/2008.
Employment Relationship Act (Zakon o delovnih razmerjih), Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 42/2002 and 103/2007. http://www.mju.gov.si/si/delovna_razmerja_in_stipendiranje/objave_prostih_delovnih_mest/
External Url http://zakonodaja.gov.si/rpsi/r07/predpis_ZAKO3177.html
There are no legal restrictions for migrants and minorities to become members of trade unions. The trade unions do not bar migrants from becoming their members on the grounds of nationality. The statute of the Confederation of trade unions of Slovenia Pergam states that any worker who concluded an employment contract for full time or part time work or for a permanent or temporary employment may become a member of this trade union (Article 16). The statutes of trade unions which are members of the Union of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia also allow all workers to become members, and their membership does not depend on their nationality.
See other countriesSee indicator history Does the law provides for legalizing the situation of illegal immigrants in order to ensure their right to work and access to social protection and care? Regularization of legal status in Slovenia is possible under a law which was adopted for people who have been unlawfully deprived of their legal status in 1992 after the independence of Slovenia (the so-called ‘erased people’) and for people who were de facto living in Slovenia since the independence onwards.
Regularization of legal status in Slovenia is possible under a law which was adopted for people who have been unlawfully deprived of their legal status in 1992 after the independence of Slovenia (the so-called ‘erased people’).
The erased people: In accordance with Article 40 of the Citizenship of the Republic of Slovenia Act, in 1991 all citizens of other republics of the former SFRY who had permanent residence in Slovenia on 23 December 1990 (the day of the referendum of independence) and de facto resided in Slovenia had the right to apply for citizenship under more lenient conditions in a six-month deadline. Those who had not applied or their application was refused, were also erased from the registry of permanent residents. Even though the majority of them resided in Slovenia for many years or even decades, they were considered immigrants staying on the territory of Slovenia without any legal status and were expected to regulate their status anew. This group later became known as the ‘erased’ people.
In 1999, the Constitutional Court found that the erasure was unlawful as it was carried out without any legal basis. The Constitutional Court also prohibited deportations of the erased people until their status is resolved. Following the Constitutional Court decision, a 1999 Act Regulating the Legal Status of Citizens of Former Yugoslavia Living in the Republic of Slovenia (hereinafter Legal Status Act) was passed, providing those erased who could prove that they de facto lived in Slovenia from the erasure onwards to apply for permanent residence status under more lenient conditions than those generally in place in the Aliens Act.
In addition, the Legal Status Act did not recognize the right to apply for permanent residence permit under more lenient conditions only to those who were registered as permanent residents on 23 December 1990, but also to those who were only de facto living in Slovenia at the time of independence and have continued to de facto live in Slovenia ever since.
In 2003, the Constitutional Court declared parts of the Legal Status Act unconstitutional. It took seven years for this Constitutional Court decision to be implemented by both the Ministry of Interior and the National Assembly. In 2010 the amendments to the 1999 Legal Status Act have been enacted, providing for a possibility for the erased people who were absent from Slovenia to regulate their permanent residence status under strict conditions. This act also still provides an opportunity to obtain a permanent residence permit for all those people who are de fact living in Slovenia without interruption since the independence onwards.
Those who manage to receive a permanent residence permit under this law, have the right to access the labour market and the right to social assistance under the same conditions as nationals of Slovenia.
Zakon o urejanju statusa državljanov drugih držav naslednic SFRJ v. Republiki Sloveniji (Act Regulating the Legal Status of Citizens of Former Yugoslavia Living in the Republic of Slovenia), Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 61/1999 and 50/2010.
Kogovšek Šalamon, Migration Law in Slovenia, IEL, Kluwer Law International, 2011.
External Url http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=201076&stevilka=4131
See other countriesSee indicator history Are there examples of good practices and positive initiatives against discrimination/racism at the workplace? Invisible Workers of the World (IWW) - a civil society initiative.
Invisible workers of the world (Nevidni delavci sveta) is an informal group of activists which works to raise awareness, support, give advice to immigrants/minorities and encourages their political participation. It consists of migrant workers themselves as well of some civil society activists. The group started monitoring living and working conditions of migrant workers while this was still a marginal topic in the public discourse. It tried not only to raise awareness of their situation in the general public, but also pioneered their self-organisation.
www.njetwork.org/IWW-Nevidni-delavci-sveta Groups affected/interested
External Url www.njetwork.org/IWW-Nevidni-delavci-sveta
Migrants in Slovenia are excluded from non-profit housing, there are numerous dormitories intended solely for migrant workers. The Roma are a minority group where segregation is most visible, most of the Roma population lives in segregated settlements (slums) in rural areas, in living conditions that are far below minimum standards. Problems are insecurity of tenure and problems with accessing basic infrastructure such as water, sanitation and transport facilities.
Is there evidence of particular difficulties faced by migrant/minority groups in purchasing or renting property of their choice? Yes, there is evidence on difficulties of the Roma to buy or rent property. Qualitative Info
The Human Rights Ombudsman dealt with at least one case of housing-related discrimination in 2012. The case concerned a Roma family which moved from a municipality of their residence, namely a Roma settlement, to another municipality, where they bought a house in a non-Roma residential area. The locals gathered to discuss possible solutions aimed at preventing the Roma to move to their neighbourhood. According to the Ombudsman, in the light of constitutional rights, including the right of individuals to freely choose their residence, especially worrying were public promises made by mayors of the municipalities to the locals that they would undertake to convince the Roma family to return to their former place of residence. The Ombudsman further established that such promises only represents support to the intolerance on the part of the local residents, and that the case exhibits signs of direct discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin. Source:
Slovenia, Human Rights Ombudsman (Varuh človekovih pravic) (2012) ´Varuh zaskrbljen zaradi nestrpnosti ob preselitvi romske družine na Vranoviče`, Press release, 19 Marc 2012, available at: www.varuh-rs.si/medijsko-sredisce/sporocila-za-javnosti/novice/detajl/varuh-zaskrbljen-zaradi-nestrpnosti-ob-preselitvi-romske-druzine-na-vranovice/?cHash=86b18598adf934104c07a55798e615de
Roma and migrant workers face difficulties in accessing housing of their own choice.
Roma & Migrant workers.
According to Amnesty International there are numerous documented cases when Roma families tried to purchase or rent property in order to secure their housing rights, but their attempts were blocked either by local communities or by individuals leaving these communities.
In one case in 2001 a president of a local community was found guilty of incitement to hatreat, violence and intolerance because he hosted a meeting after he was notified that a person of a Roma origin bought property in the village. At the meeting the participants voted for a decision that the buyer was not welcome at the village. Afterwards the petition was being singned among the villagers supporting the decision accepted at the meeting. The defendants – the president who had prepared and signed the minutes of the meeting and another resident who had collected the signatures – were convicted with a sanction of suspended imprisonment.
In 2006 an eviction of the Roma family Strojan took place. The eviction was demanded by a mob and assisted by the state. The family was evicted even though they resided on land owned by them, in a house that was not legally built. The case was extensively reported in a Human Rights Ombudsman Report for the year 2008. See also case studies on Slovenia on this portal. Another problem is de facto forced housing for migrant workers. Large numbers of migrant workers in Slovenia have been accommodated in dormitories owned by the companies who employed them. Migrants had to pay these companies a rent for the apartment, and they were obliged to stay in these dormitories. The payments of rents were deducted from their salaries. If they wished they could find private accommodation, however, at the expense of an additional rent. The situation reached a peak in 2009 and 2010 when due to the economic crisis that affected the construction sector causing many migrants to lose their job making them unable to pay for housing. Since the number of migrant workers decreased significantly due to the crisis in the construction sector, these dormitories are now almost empty. Source:
Judgment of a County Court Ilirska Bistrica, no. K 50/99 of 31. 12. 2001. Human Rights Ombudsman Report for the year 2008, available at http://www.varuh-rs.si/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/lp/Varuh_LP-2008.pdf.
MOZETIČ, Polona. Worker's dormitories : from private property to public forum and back again. In: KIRN, Gal (ur.), KRALJ, Gašper (ur.), PIŠKUR, Bojana (ur.). New public spaces : dissensual political and artistic practices in the post-Yugoslav context. Maastricht: Jan van Eyck Academie: Moderna galerija, 2009, str. 49-62. Groups affected/interested
See other countriesSee indicator history Are there positive initiatives with an impact on housing of migrant and minority groups? Yes, there are positive initiatives which have been carried out with a view to regularize Roma settlements.
Amendment of the long-term spatial plan in the municipality of Krško & the building plan of the municipality Semič.
There are several positive initiatives that took place in Slovenia with a view to regularize Roma settlements which enables building of the infrastructure and improve the living conditions. In one case the municipality Krško in Dolenjska region amended its long-term spatial plan as a first step towards the regularization of the settlement. It reached an agreement with 35 owners of the land where the Roma settlement was situated to sell it to the municipality. In cooperation with the state, the status of the area was changed from agricultural to residential area. After that the land was parcelled out in accordance with the spatial plan, and space for oublic areas such as square, playground and a bus station was reserved. The necessary infrastructure for running water and electricity was set up in the settlement. Further, the municipal council adopted a decision to sell the land to the Roma at an affordable price, with an option for payment in low monthly allowances. The total costs for regularization, however, still amounted to 13.000 EUR which was inaccessible to many.
For this reason in municipality Semič in Dolenjska region a different approach was taken. The municipality first adopted a building plan for the settlement and then bought the land from various private owners who owned the land where the settlement was situated. The Romani households signed tenancy agreements with the municipality for a period of 99 years. The families therefore obtained the right to live on this land but not to sell it. The families are not obliged to pay any rent but have the obligation to pay for services, such as water and electricity.
Various models of regularization are being studied by the Expert Group on Roma settlements functioning within the Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning, which is opreparing recommendations to carry out regularization in other Roma settlements as well.
High rate of school failure of Roma children as well as evidence of poorer educational performance of children with migrant background indicate most vulnerable groups in the educational system in Slovenia. The state and non-state actors develop measures and actions to improve the situation. Italian and Hungarian minorities are provided with right to education in mother languages. Other minorities in some cases can learn their mother languages as an optional subject.
Yes, there are evidences of lack of accessibility of Slovenian educational system for children from Roma community.
There are evidence of inadequate enrollment rate for Roma children on various level of education.
Various reports produced by state bodies, research and non-govermental organisations refer to problems and practical obstacles in access to education for children originating from Roma community. Problems include high rate of school failure and high number of school out-drops of Roma children, both connected with the lack of Slovenian language competence among them (consequently lack of ability to follow the educational process), but also with low expectations, non-attendance of classes, discouraging domestic conditions etc. Proportion of Roma children enrolled in the schools for children with special needs (disabilities) is seven times higher than for majority children. There are also evidences of homogeneous classes for Roma children in kindegartens and elementary schools as a result of other measures (such as for istance division of children with different level of knowledge of certain subject), although it is a practice which has been officially abandoned. Practical obstacles includes also stygmatisation of Roma children from the part of majority children and their parents.
There have been various policy documents and measures developed by the Ministry of Education, especially after EU membership (2004) to improve access of education for Roma children and their success.
Albina Necak Luk and Sonja Novak Lukanovic: "Inclusion of Roma Children into Education in Slovenia: The Language Competence and Culture Dimensions", The Open Education Journal, 4/2011. http://benthamscience.com/open/toeduj/articles/V004/SI0130TOEDUJ/164TOEDUJ.pdf. Date of access: 9.1.2012.
Amnesty International Report on Education of Roma Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, 2006, http://www.humanrightspoint.si/files/att/roma/Roma%20report%20BiH%20CRO%20SLO%20FINAL.pdf. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Amnesty International Slovenia Report, 2010, http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/slovenia/report-2010. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Strategy for Education of Roma in Slovenia, 2004. http://www.mss.gov.si/fileadmin/mss.gov.si/.../0721_strategija_Romi.doc. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
External Url http://www.humanrightspoint.si/files/att/roma/Roma%20report%20BiH%20CRO%20SLO%20FINAL.pdf
There are some obstacles and problems with inclusion of migrants in the educational system, including differential enrollment rates for certain type or level of education.
In Slovenia, the notion "migrant" is often used, even in official documents, for two groups: first, people holding Slovenian citizenship (gained after the dissolution of Yugoslavia) with ethnic background in other republics of former Yugoslavia, who had a status of migrant workers in 1970s, but the prevailing discourse keeps categorizing them them and their children/grandchildren as migrants rather than minorities. The second group are residents of Slovenia with actual status of migrants; they are again in wast majority belonging to nations of former Yugoslavia and to working class.
Children and students from both groups face some obstacles in advancing through the educational system in Slovenia, although those having actual status of migrants are in a more specific situation and as such are subject of actual inclusion policy measures.
The obstacles include poorer comand of Slovenian language, which influence also success in other subjects; disadvantaged socio-economic domestic situation (beloning to working class in most cases), inadequate inclusion of parents in the school environment and in society, stigmatization and intolerance in society, lack of instruments, skills and tools that would enable schools and teachers to work with children with migrant background, etc. Poorer educational performance of disproportionally high number of children with migrant background a make lot of them unable to be enrolled in grammar schools and at university programs which, once completed, would make them able to achieve highest educational degrees and to advance within the structure of power in the society.
A study on situation with "second generation" of migrants from former Yugoslavia in Slovenia published in a book written by authors B. Dekleva, Š. Razpotnik: "Čefurji so bili rojeni tu: življenje mladih priseljencev druge generacije v Ljubljani", Faculty of Education and Institute for Criminology at the Law Faculty, Ljubljana, 2002.
Strategy for inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia, Ministry of Education, 2007, http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c843. Date of access: 10.9.2012.
Assessment of the situation with inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia, Slovenian Philantrophy-Association for the Promotion of Volunteering, http://www.filantropija.org/library/includes/file.asp?FileId=79. Date of access: 10.9.2012.
External Url http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c843
There are evidences of poorer educational performance by Roma children and children with migrant background.
For many years a number of reports produced by state bodies, research and non-govermental organisations in Slovenia refer to high rate of school failure and high number of school out-drops of Roma children, both connected with the lack of Slovenian language competence among them (consequently lack of ability to follow the educational process), but also with low expectations, non-attendance of classes, discouraging domestic conditions etc.
Evidence of poorer educational performance for children with migrant background have been mentioned in several studies on the situation with migrant students in elementary and secondary schools in Slovenia. A survey done among schools indicates that the schools see reasons for problems with educational perfomance of children with migrant background in poor knowledge of Slovenian language, in cultural differences, different school system, intolerance in society, and socio-economic status of migrants. At the same time the Strategy for inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia, developed by the Ministry of Education refers also to problems on the side of schools where the amount of additional Slovenian language classes for migrant students, teaching materials as well as competences of teachers are inadequate.
Strategy for education of Roma in Slovenia, Ministry of Education, 2004, http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c842. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Addition to Strategy for education of Roma in Slovenia, Ministry of Education, 2011, http://www.mss.gov.si/fileadmin/mss.gov.si/pageuploads/podrocje/razvoj_solstva/projekti/Strategija_Romi_dopolnitev_2011.pdf. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Amnesty International Slovenia Report, 2010, Amnesty International Slovenia Report, 2010, http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/slovenia/report-2010. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Albina Necak Luk and Sonja Novak Lukanovic: "Inclusion of Roma Children into Education in Slovenia: The Language Competence and Culture Dimensions", The Open Education Journal, 4/2011, http://benthamscience.com/open/toeduj/articles/V004/SI0130TOEDUJ/164TOEDUJ.pdf. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Strategy for inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia, Ministry of Education, 2007. http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c843. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Assessment of the situation with inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia, Slovenian Philantrophy-Association for the Promotion of Volunteering, http://www.filantropija.org/library/includes/file.asp?FileId=79. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
External Url http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c842
High percentage of children from Roma community doesn't attain the classes regulary and quits school before graduates.
High number of school out-drops of Roma children and their non-attendance of classes have been identified and addressed in many documents and projects by state bodies, research and non-government organisations in Slovenia. In analysis of the situation the problems of non-attendance and drop out of Roma children are explained by their lack of Slovenian language competence and consequently lack of ability to follow the educational process, but also by low expectations, discouraging domestic conditions, stigmatisation of Roma children from the part of majority children and their parents and inability of school system to develop adequate tools and mechanisms to improve the situation.
There have been various policy documents and measures developed by the Ministry of Education, especially after EU membership (2004), in the field of education of Roma in Slovenia, as well as number of projects developed by civil society and research organisations to address the issue.
See other countriesSee indicator history Are there positive initiatives to improve/support poor educational provision for migrant and minority groups? Yes, there are efforts and initiatives by state and non-state actors to improve situation with educational performance of Roma and migrants.
Significant efforts have been made by the state in developing strategies and implementing measures to improve conditions for inclusion of Roma children in educational system and also for adult Roma to achieve formal education, especially since 2004 and EU membership of Slovenia. In 2004 the national strategy was developed and updated in 2011, including critical assessment of the situation and the system, but also providing recommendations for adequate measures.
The measures include financial support to schools with Roma students to cover cost of additional classes and assistance to Roma students, to cover costs of transport, handbooks and meals for them; it is also allowed to schools to form classes with smaller number of students than it is established with general standars (to allow teachers to work more with Roma students during the classes); the position of Roma assistant to teachers have been introduced at the beginning as an experiment, (to help teachers in communication with Roma children) without clear role, but gradually the position gained formal status.
Various research and civil society organisations have developed, mostly with the support of EU funds (partly also with the support of the Open Society Foundations, especially in late 1990s), number of projects to provide support to schools and kindergartens with training courses, educational tools etc., but also to provide support to Roma chidlren and Roma community in learning Slovenian language and developing skills for integration in the school system. Number of campaigns and public awareness initiatives have been simultaneously developed against discrimination of Roma in education and other areas. Critical assessments of the situation with Roma inclusion in education have been done by non-governmental organisations, contributing to policy changes. Summer camps and similar initiatives to empower young Roma for participation in educational system and develop own talents have been organised by Roma associations and other non-governmental organisations.
In 2007 the Ministry of Education have also developed a strategy for inclusion of children with migrant background in education, identifying goals and measures. Among them are additional Slovenian language classes provided to children with migrant background in schools for which schools receive funds from the state. In 2011 the Guidelines for better integration of children with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia have been developed by the Institute for Education (Zavod za šolstvo) of the Republic of Slovenia with detailed instructions for schools which measures and values to introduce and promote.
Some non-governmental organisations such as the Slovenian Philanthropy work with children and youth with migrant background, assisting them in the process of integration in the educational system and in the society, but also with relevant institutions to improve assessibility of the system for children and youth with migrant background. Such NGOs for their projects gain financial support from various state bodies, EU funds etc.
Program "Migrations", The Slovenian Philanthropy, http://www.filantropija.org/filantropija.asp?FolderId=129. Date of access: 11.1.2012.
Assessment of the situation with inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia, Slovenian Philanthropy-Association for the Promotion of Volunteering, http://www.filantropija.org/library/includes/file.asp?FileId=79. Date of access: 10.1.2012.
Some reports provide indications of Roma pupils being victims of bullying and harassment in schools in Slovenia, but also of Roma pupils' violent behaviour.
There are surveys that reveal homophobic violence in secondary schools in Slovenia.
The Amnesty International report on education of Roma in Slovenia (2006) refers to Roma children as "targets for bullying and harassment", while the report on human rights in Slovenia by the US State Department (2010) - referring to information gathered by the Amnesty International and the Roma Council - reveals that Roma children are exposed to certain forms of violence also by the schools since "public school officials in Novo Mesto required Romani students to shower, using school facilities before classes, subjecting them to ridicule and humiliation".
At the same time some official documents produced by schools reffer to violent behaviour of Roma pupils as a reason why parents of non-Roma pupils request separate classes.
According to the survey done by Legebitra, a civil society organisation that promote rights of LGBTQ population, 35 percent of the LGBTQ population in secondary schools in Slovenia have been victims of some kind of violence (including physical attacks targeting mostly gays). In some cases LGBTQ students in secondary schools have been victims of bullying and harassment not only by other students but also by teachers.
Studies on "second generation of immigrants from former Yugoslavia in Slovenia" have also revealed specific experience of young members of national minorities from other parts of former Yugoslavia (Albanians, Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs etc.) with verbal, emotional and physical violence in school (in the role of both victims and perpetrators).
According to the studies and discussions on violence in schools in Slovenia, the violent behaviour of students have not been officially perceived and addressed in schools in the context of ethnic divisions, but rather by reffering to family relations and eventually to other structural conditions such as class differences.
False starts - The exclusion of Romani children from primary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, Amnesty International Report 2006, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR05/002/2006/en. Date of access: 26.1.2012.
Human Rights Report - Slovenia, 2010, US State Department, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eur/154451.htm. Date of access: 26.1.212.
Poročilo o izvedenih ukrepih pri reševanju romske problematike v Občini Trebnje v letu 2004 (Report on implemented measures to solve the Roma situation in the Municipality Trebnje in 2004), http://www.lex-localis.info/KatalogPristojnosti/TiskDokumenta.aspx?SectionID=f6916dd0-78f2-443a-8762-f8116990d041. Date of access: 26.1.2012.
"I know it is a kind of violence agaist Roma pupils...", article in Mladina weekly, 14.4.2011, http://www.mladina.si/53738/zavedam-se-da-je-to-tudi-nasilje-nad-otroki/. Date of access: 26.1.2012.
"Pedri raus! Homofobično nasilje v šolah" (Gays raus! A homophobic violence in schools), an article by Simon Maljevac and Jasna Magić, Sodobna pedagogika 60(4), 2009, http://www.sodobna-pedagogika.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1406&Itemid=26. Date of access: 28.1.2012.
Še vedno: vsepovsod nasilje (Violence is still everywhere), Narobe, 10.4.2009, http://www.narobe.si/stevilka-9/raziskava-o-glbt-mladih.html. Date of access: 28.1.2012.
"Čefurji so bili rojeni tukaj - Življenje mladih priseljencev druge generacije v Ljubljani" (Čefurji have been born here - A life of young immigrants of second generation in Ljubljana), a study by Bojan Dekleva and Špela Razpotnik, Institute for Criminology within the Law Faculty in Ljubljana, and Faculty of Education in Ljubljana, 2002.
"Dosje: Druga generacija@južnjaki.si", a documentary film by TV Slovenia, 13.6.2006, http://www.rtvslo.si/odprtikop/dosje/druga-generacija-juznjaki-si/. Date of access: 27.1.2012.
Report with summary of findings of the project STAMINA-Formation of non-violent behaviour in school and leisure time among youths from violent families (2009 – 2011) in Slovenia, Austria, Germany and Spain, 2011, http://www.stamina-project.eu/files/engl.pdf. Date of access: 27.1.2012.
External Url http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR05/002/2006/en, http://www.narobe.si/stevilka-9/raziskava-o-glbt-mladih.html
Two national minorities in Slovenia - Italian and Hungarian - are provided with right to education in mother languages in the regions where the two minoritiesare traditionally settled.
Roma minority and national minorities with origins in other republics of former Yugoslavia in some cases can learn their mother languages within the school curricula as an optional subject. Occasionally the minority associations provide mother language courses.
Italian and Hungarian minority are considered traditional (autochthonous) minorities in Slovenia and as such provided with protection of their language rights. It includes right to education in mother languages which is in the case of the Italian community realised through establishment of own schools while in the case of Hungarian minority all schools in the regions where the Hungarian minority is traditionally settled are bilingual.
In the case of Roma community there is not yet adopted curricula for Roma language, although it has been one of the goals established by the Strategy for education of Roma in Slovenia, adopted by the government in 2004. There have been efforts made in that direction through govermental support to a research group. Instead the curricula for the subject Roma culture has been developed, but it is taught in one elementary school in Slovenia only. The courses of Roma language are provided outside the school curricula by Roma associations and experts.
Minority protection for national minorities with origins in other republics of former Yugoslavia (Albanians, Bosniaks, Croats, Macedonians, Montenegrins and Serbs) has not been provided through normative framework. In many aspects, including the language rights , they are still regarded as immigrant communities. In the area of protection of their languages many efforts have been made by minority associations to organise own courses of mother languages and convince respective bodies to provide instituional educational framework for learning of these languages. At the moment twofold approach can be identified: according to first, the classes of Macedonian, Croatian and Serbian languages are provided in schools as extracurriculum activities where costs of classrooms are covered by the schools (the Government of Slovenia) while the states concerned (or their embassies) cover costs of teachers and the teaching material. As a more recent approach, curricula for several languages (Serbian, Macedonian) were adopted by the relevant education expert bodies, and the classes of these minority languages became a part of the national education system in the form of optional subjects in the last three years of the elementary schools. However in practice the classes are organised for Croatian language only (a curricula for that language has been adopted earlier), but even the number of schools providing Croatian as an optional subject is decreasing.
"Italian community", assessment of the minority protection provided by the Office for National Minorities, http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/minorities/italian_national_community/. Date of access: 12.1.2012.
"Hungarian community", assessment of the minority protection provided by the Office for National Minorities,http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/minorities/hungarian_national_community/. Date of access: 12.1.2012.
"Roma community", assesment of the minority protection provided by the Office for National Minorities, http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/minorities/roma_community/. Date of access: 12.1.2012.
EACEA, Integrating Immigrant Children Into Schools in Europe, 2009, http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/documents/thematic_reports/101EN.pdf. Date of access: 12.1.2012.
Kržišnik-Bukić, V. "Narodnomanjšinsko vprašanje v Sloveniji po razpadu Jugoslavije" (The Issue of National Minorities in Slovenia After the Disolution of Yugoslavia), Razprave in gradivo, No. 56-57/2008, Ljubljana: Institute for Ethnic Studies, http://www.inv.si/DocDir/Publikacije-PDF/Razprave%20in%20gradivo/RIG%2056_57/VKB%2056_57.pdf. Date of access: 11.1.2012.
External Url http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/documents/thematic_reports/101EN.pdf
Such evidences are rare.
The strategies for inclusion of both most depriviledged cateogires - children from Roma and from migrant comunities - in educational system in Slovenia refer to the need for modification of school curricula and materials to better reflect cultural diversity. Both documents have been adopted by the government (Ministry of Education). The strategy on Roma inclusion in the educational system from 2004 contains critical statements claiming that on all level of educations there is lack of encouragements for introduction of subject such as Roma culture in the school curriculum or to include such topics in the teaching material. The 2011 addition to the strategy refers to the evidence of recent development of the curriculum for new subject in elementary schools Roma culture (in 2007), but also mentions that only one school in Slovenia organises a class of Roma culture in practice.
Formally, the rules for addoption of textbooks refer to the objectives of education stipulated in the Organisatiion and Financing of Education Act , among them are: education for mutual tolerance, developing awareness of gender equality, respect for diversity and cooperation with others, respect for children's and human rights and fundamental freedoms, and development of equal opportunities for both sexes and thereby the ability to live in a democratic society.
Strategy for education of Roma in Slovenia, Ministry of Education, 2004, http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c842. Date of access: 12.1.2012.
Addition to Strategy for education of Roma in Slovenia, Ministry of Education, 2011, http://www.mss.gov.si/fileadmin/mss.gov.si/pageuploads/podrocje/razvoj_solstva/projekti/Strategija_Romi_dopolnitev_2011.pdf. Date of access: 13.1.2012.
Strategy for inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia, Ministry of Education, 2007, http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c843. Date of access: 12.1.2012.
Organisation and Financing of Education Act (Art.2), 1996, http://www.see-educoop.net/education_in/pdf/law_fin_edu-slo-enl-t04.pdf. Date of access: 13.1.2012.
Yes, there are good practices.
Within the recent project on education for intercultural relations and active citizenship (2010-2011), run by two academic institutions (Educational Research Institute and Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts), a number of good practices within individual elementary and secondary schools (and non-governmental organisations working with children and young people in the field of intercultural relations) have been identified and presented. Mostly the schools with good practices in the field of intercultural relations are those with significant number of pupils/students with minority/migrant background. Good practices include engagement of teachers in attempst to develop and test elements of potential curricula for new subjects such as Intercultural education, organisation of cultural and social events in schools, which include students and parents (e.g music events, cooking of food from various countries), which promote interculturalism, language courses (Slovenian language, minority languages), special efforts of school libraries to provide books in mother languages of pupils/students and organise events for children and parents, regular work with parents and support to them in integration etc.
Project "Expertise, strategies and theoretical thematisations for education for intercultural relations and active citizenship", Educational Research Institute and Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts, http://www.medkulturni-odnosi.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48%3Akoper&catid=3&Itemid=17. Date of access: 13.1.2012.
External Url http://www.medkulturni-odnosi.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48%3Akoper&catid=3&Itemid=17
Education of teachers on university level include some subjects on teaching multilingual classes and intercultural education. Teachers are offered additional (mid-career) training courses in this field.
Subjects on teaching multilingual classes and intercultural education or those that integrate references to intercultural education are part of curricula for education of teachers on university level.
At the same time there are training courses on intercultural education and intercultural dialogue, teaching multilingual classes, teaching classes with Roma pupils, teaching students with minority background etc., offered by various institutions, mostly universities and institutes. It is done within regular practice of the Ministry of Education to form an annual catalogue of all mid-career training courses for teachers; the courses included in the catalogue provide to teachers opportunity to advance their skills and knowledge, but also to gain promotion in their employment system.
Outside both regular university education and training courses provided on the basis of the catalogue compiled annually by the Ministry of Education, there are number of courses, seminars, conferences and projects in Slovenia within schools or run by research or non-governmental organisations to target schools and teachers in their efforts to improve capacities for education of children and young people with minority (especially Roma) and migrant background. Many of them have been developed within the EU funded initiatives.
MIPEX 2010, Report on Slovenia, http://www.mipex.eu/slovenia. Date of access: 14.1.2012.
Project on intercultural relations in education and active citizenship 2010-2011, run by the Institute for Research in Education and Research Institute of the Academy of Science and Arts, http://http://www.medkulturni-odnosi.si/. Date of access: 14.1.2012.
The Catalogue of training courses for teachers in the school year 2011/12, Ministry of Education, http://lim1.mss.edus.si/katis/reporti/katalog/KATALOG1112.PDF. Date of access: 14.1.2012.
External Url http://www.mipex.eu/slovenia
In Slovenia the data on morbidity/mortality are not segregated by ethnicity or nationality. There is no evidence available on forced healthcare/intervention practices. Some information on specific health problems is available only in relation to Roma community. Access of migrants to social benefits depends on their legal status. Ethnic origin is not a condition to access social benefits, however, in practice there are instances of discrimination based on the ground of ethnicity.
The data on morbidity collected by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia are not segregated by ethnicity or nationality.
The data on morbidity collected by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia are not segregated by ethnicity or nationality. Also, no qualitative research has been carried out in Slovenia on this issue.
External Url http://www.stat.si/
See other countriesSee indicator history Specific health issues such as diseases specific to particular groups Some information on specific health problems is available only in relation to Roma community. Qualitative Info
Some information on specific health problems is available only in relation to Roma community.
Access to health services is an issue addressed in a 1995 Government Program for the Assistance to Roma People. However, this program only includes activities to be carried out but no background information for these activities.
There is no academic research available on specific health issues of particular groups. Amnesty International reports states, which examines the conditions in which some Roma families live, states that contaminated water that some Roma families are forced to use in the absence of water infrastructure in their settlements, causes serious illnesses, such as diarrhoea.
There are also some blogs available which address the health situation of Roma in a descriptive manner. In one of such articles, for example, Rajko Sajnovic states that Roma children start smoking and drinking coffee, and have access to alcohol very early in childhood, which causes weak immune system. Poor nutrition of Roma children living in poor Roma settlements is another cause of illnesses. He states that the majority of Roma people have cardiovascular problems and chronic illnesses on lungs and stomach. Many have increased values of cholesterol and sugar and many have problems with hypertension.
Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Program ukrepov za pomoč Romov v Republiki Sloveniji, 1995, available at: http://www.uvn.gov.si/fileadmin/uvn.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf_datoteke/Romi_1995.pdf.
Rajko Sajnovic: Zdravje romskih otrok (Health of Roma Children), http://www.redbook.si/user/rsajnovi/blog/43807=zdravje-romskih-otrok/. Groups affected/interested
Human Rights Ombudsman reports on differential treatment of Roma in access to social benefits, using conditions of vaccination.
In its 2012 Annual report, covering developments in the year 2011, the Human Rights Ombudsman states that the institution was informed about the issue of low vaccination coverage of the Roma children in Novo mesto administrative unit. It found that the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs notified all Social work centres in the country that they may include the obligation of mandatory vaccination of children in the contracts on active solving of individual’s social issues which they sign with recipients of social assistance. These contracts, governed by the Social Security Act, include obligations which must be respected by recipients of social assistance. If the latter fail to meet the contract obligations, they may lose the assistance. Upon observing the facts of the case, the Ombudsman established that, if not explicitly stipulated in the Social Security Act, the provision of social assistance to an individual might not be conditioned by fulfilment of obligations the individual had under other sectoral acts, which was, in this case, the legislation governing preventive measures against infectious diseases. The Ombudsman further established that such a solution, as proposed by the ministry, might result in unequal treatment of persons based on their social status. Wealthier individuals would only be fined if they failed to respect the provisions of compulsory vaccination, while the socially disadvantaged might be punished twice, with a fine and deprivation of financial assistance. According to the Ombudsman, it was not irrelevant that the observed issue was related to the Roma population, which could also gave rise to concerns about possible discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin.
There were two surveys identified providing insight into the Roma health situation. Both were carried out, in the past, by the Institute of Public Health Murska Sobota.
The results of the first survey (Risk factors for non-communicable diseases in adult population of the Roma community) have not been available for years. Some of the findings were recently published in a publication on the health situation of Roma which aimed at general public and presented available information in rather popular manner. The survey included 259 randomly selected members of Roma communities in Pomurje region between 25 and 65 years of age. It was carried out in 2006 and 2007 using the same methodology as the similar survey carried out at national level. The survey findings showed that more than the half of respondents assessed their care for their health as good or very good. However, almost a third of Roma respondents claimed that their health status was poor or very poor. According to the survey, Roma often suffer from stress which is particularly faced by women, elderly and those members of the Roma community with the lowest educational achievement. As the cause of stress, the respondents cited poor financial situation, problems in the family and loneliness. The survey further showed that smokers form a substantial group in Roma communities (two-thirds of men and half of women). Many of them smoke in living quarters exposing all household members, including children and elderly, to second-hand smoking. In Roma communities, smoking tends to be the most common risk factor for their health status. Daily physical activities are insufficient, particularly among women, while their nutrition habits also tend to be problematic. According to the survey findings, risk factors can be found more frequently among poorer and less educated Roma. The respondents most often reported diseases and malfunctions of the spine and joints as well as lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and asthma. Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are the next most common type of health problems faced by the Roma.
The second survey, carried out in 2008 and 2009, was designed to assess the use of healthcare services by Roma women in Pomurje region as well as other parts of the country. It captured 326 Roma women between 15 and 64 years of age. They were mothers of 119 children up to five years old. The research was based on field survey, observation with participation, field diaries, and additional three focus groups discussions were held, two with the Roma women and one with nurses in regular contact with the Roma women. The research findings showed that:
- about 95% of women in all areas were included in basic health insurance scheme, but it also showed that 74.2% of respondents in Pomurje and 69% in other areas had complementary health insurance,
- 97.4% of the respondents in Pomurje have a selected physician, while their share in other parts of the country is 91.4%, while the share of women with a selected gynaecologist is considerably lower, 77.6% in Pomurje and 75.9% elsewhere, and only 33% aged up to 18 years,
- 38.2% of respondents in Pomurje assessed their health state as good or very good, compared to 27.5 % in other areas, while the share of women assessing their health state as bad or very bad was 25.5 % in Pomurje and 27.5 % in other areas,
- some 40% of all respondents reported chest pains during physical activities, 70% reported back, neck and joint pains, 45% of all Roma women reported persistent coughing fits, while 50% reported sleeplessness,
- in Pomurje, 37.7% of women reported depression, compared to 55.2% elsewhere, while 73.2% of women in Pomurje and 60.3% of respondents in other parts of the country reported taking some medications in the last week (no further explanations available; probably a week before the survey or in the week of the survey; our comment),
- some 91% of the Roma respondents in Pomurje claimed that they received the medical assistance on an equal footing with non-Roma women, compared to 74.2% in other parts of the country,
- 96.4% of Pomurje respondents stated that Roma and non-Roma children had equal access to doctors, compared to 76.5% in other areas,
- 97.6% of Pomurje respondents agreed that healthcare workers respectfully treated Roma mothers and children, compared to 77.1% elsewhere.
Slovenia, Human Rights Ombudsman (Varuh človekovih pravic) (2012), Letno poročilo Varuha človekovih pravic Republike Slovenije za leto 2011, Ljubljana, Varuh človekovih pravic, p. 307, available at: www.varuh-rs.si/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/lp/Letno_porocilo_Varuha_za_leto_2011.pdf.
Belović, B. (2011), ´Health-related lifestyle of Roma` in Belović, B., Krajnc Nikolić, T. (eds.), Determinants affecting the health of Roma in Pomurje, Murska Sobota, Zavod za zdravstveno varstvo Murska Sobota, pp. 74-76 (bilingual edition), available at: www.zzv-ms.si/si/neenakosti/zdravjeRomov.pdf.pdf.
Zavod za zdravstveno varstvo Murska Sobota (year of publication not known, the project carried out in 2008 and 2009) Ocena rabe zdravstvenih storitev v populaciji romskih žensk in otrok v Sloveniji – Prispevek k zmanjševanju neenakosti v zdravju, Murska Sobota, Zavod za zdravstveno varstvo Murska Sobota, available at: www.dlib.si/stream/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-WG7BOOBP/2d247d08-9e35-4976-ab38-bf5a813d55a0/PDF.
Yes, migrants have a higher risk of poverty than the rest of the population.
25% of foreign-born population aged 25-54 is in risk of poverty in relation to 14% of native-born population of the same age.
According to Eurostat, households of third country nationals in Slovenia have a lower annual income comparing to nationals. According to the 2011 report, the data shows lower median annual equivalised disposable incomes for third country nationals. The median annual disposable income for nationals' households was 14.687 EUR, for other EU member states nationals' households 13.987 EUR and for third-country nationals' households 12.923 EUR.
According to press release issued at the Intrnational Migrants Day by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 25% of foreign-born population in Slovenia aged 25-54 and 14% of native-born population in Slovenia of the same age was at risk of poverty or social exclusion which shows a higher risk of poverty for foreign born population.
Migrants in Europe. A statistical portrait of the first and second generation. Eurostat Statistical books, 2011, available at http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-31-10-539/EN/KS-31-10-539-EN.PDF. International Migrants Day 2011, news posted by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, available at http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4415.
External Url http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4415
A practice that could be marked as good practice is the pro bono health service for people without health insurance. However, this pro bono centre does not accommodate different cultures or traditions in the field of health care but the lack of health insurance which migrants as well as Roma minority often face. Qualitative Info
A practice that could be marked as good practice is the pro bono health service for people without health insurance. However, this pro bono centre does not accommodate different cultures or traditions in the field of health care but the lack of health insurance which migrants as well as Roma minority often face. Pro bono centre was founded by health centre Ljubljana the City of Ljubljana, Slovenian caritas and Slovene Philanthropy. It is funded by the Municipality of Ljubljana (a similar centre is also functioning in Maribor, the second biggest city in Slovenia). It is intended for all people residing in Ljubljana who do not have health insurance. It is led by a retired doctor (a general practitioner dr. Doplihar) who is assisted by volunteer doctors specialists in different medical fields (neurology, orthopaedics, psychiatry, gynaecology, gastroenterology etc.). In addition to health services, also social services and counselling for children and pregnant women are available, as well as preventive services and personal hygienic services.
Web site of the Pro Bono centre for people without health insurance, http://www.ordinacija.net/members/www-pzs.php?mg_pzs_id=74&lang=slo. Groups affected/interested
External Url http://www.ordinacija.net/members/www-pzs.php?mg_pzs_id=74&lang=slo
Non-national permanent residents of Slovenia have the right to vote in local elections. Only EU nationals can stand as candidates. Hungarian and Italian minorities have the right to self-government on certain territory. Consultations with authorities are established for communities with origins in former Yugoslavia and for Roma. Acquisition of citizenship by birth is connected to Slovenian citizenship of at least one parent. Conditions for regular naturalisation are very strict.
Yes, in local (municipal) elections.
According to the Local Elections Act (2006), all non-national residents of Slovenia with permanent residence permit are granted the right to vote in local elections, but among them only EU nationals are allowed to stand as candidates.
Local Elections Act, 2006, http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200622&stevilka=843. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
Local voting rights for non-nationals in Europe, 2008, a report by Kees Groenendijk for the Migration Policy Institute, http://www.migrationpolicy.org/transatlantic/docs/Groenendijk-FINAL.pdf. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
Položaj tujcev v Sloveniji po lokalnih volitvah 2006 (Situation of foreign citizens in Slovenia after 2006 local elections), a report by Roman Lavtar for IFIMES, http://www.ifimes.org/default.cfm?Jezik=si&Kat=10&ID=300. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
External Url http://www.migrationpolicy.org/transatlantic/docs/Groenendijk-FINAL.pdf
See other countriesSee indicator history Outreach - encourage participation - Practical obstacles or problems for migrants in exercising their right to vote No data on number of migrants (non-national residents of Slovenia) with voting rights who actually exercise their rights.
In the 2006 local elections there were 20.225 non-national residents of Slovenia (migrants) with voting rights, registered in voting (electoral) registers. There is no data available how many of them have exercised their right. Although EU nationals with permanent residence permit in Slovenia can stand as candidates in the local elections, no such resident have been elected in municipality councils.
The process of recruitment of candidates in the local elections is made mostly through political parties, although there are cases of independent lists of candidates. It seems that migrants, including EU nationals, are not integrated in the political community (parties, independents lists) to be able to exercise the right to stand as candidates in the local elections. The obstacles for the integration in that field may arise from the lack of knowledge about the Slovenian political system, history and language.
Položaj tujcev v Sloveniji po lokalnih volitvah 2006 (Situation of foreign citizens in Slovenia after 2006 local elections), a report by Roman Lavtar for IFIMES,http://www.ifimes.org/default.cfm?Jezik=si&Kat=10&ID=300. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
External Url http://www.ifimes.org/default.cfm?Jezik=si&Kat=10&ID=300
Accoring to Art. 5 of the Local Elections Act, only EU nationals with permanent residence permit in Slovenia have the right to stand as candidates in local elections in Slovenia (as well as right to vote).
Accoring to Art. 5 of the Local Elections Act, only EU nationals with permanent residence permit in Slovenia have the right to stand as candidates in local elections in Slovenia (as well as right to vote). Migrants from non-EU countries, despite holding permanent residence permit, have no right to stand as candidates, but only the right to vote.
Local Elections Act, 2007, http://www.uradni-list.si/1/content?id=82671. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
External Url http://www.uradni-list.si/1/content?id=82671
Yes, but only in the case of two national minorities in Slovenia - the Hungarian and the Italian national minority. Other minorities don't have such rights.
According to the Art. 64 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia (which stipulates "Special rights of the autochthonous Italian and Hungarian national communities in Slovenia") each the Italian and the Hungarian national minority in Slovenia has "in order to exercise its rights, the right to establish its own self-governing communities".
There is also a law specifying in more details that consistutional right - the Self-Governing National Communities Act (1994) - which in the Art. 1 stipulates: “For the implementation of special rights, guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, for the promotion of their needs and interests, and for organised participation in public matters, members of the Italian and Hungarian National communities establish, in regions of their autochthonous settlement, self-governing national communities.”
Following the legal provisions, the Hungarian national miinority is organised within the Pomurje Hungarian Self-Governing National Community. This is the umbrella organisation of the Hungarian national community in the Republic of Slovenia. Within municipalities, the Hungarian national community has municipal Hungarian self-governing national communities in 5 municipalities.
The Italian national minority in Slovenia is organised within the Coastal Italian Self-governing Community. This is the umbrella organisation, which has the status of an entity of public law, and communicates with state authorities in 3 municipalities in which Italians live autochthonously. In these municipalities, the Italian national community is organised in municipal Italian self-governing communities, which are linked with the umbrella organisation through their delegates.
Other minorities in Slovenia don't have such rights to self-government.
"Italian National Community", Office for National Minorities of the Government of Slovenia, http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/minorities/italian_national_community/. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
"Hungarian National Community". Office for National Minorities of the Government of Slovenia, http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/minorities/hungarian_national_community/. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
External Url http://www.uvn.gov.si/en/minorities/
See other countriesSee indicator history Are migrants' representatives engaged in any formal consultation with public authorities? If we consider migrants to be those who are not nationals of Slovenia, there are no formal mechanisms for regular consultations with public authorities. In the Slovenian circumstances, migrants are sometimes considered also nationals of Slovenia with origins in former Yugoslavia. In their case there is a formal mechanism for consultations.
The actual migrants, having no citizenship of Slovenia, don't have formal mechanisms to be represented as a group in consultations with the authorities. In some cases, through the organisation Invisible Workers, they have entered into dialogue and negotiations with the autorities in relation to their labour rights, but it was made on an ad-hoc basis, with the support of the unions and other activists in Slovenia.
On the other hand, citizens of Slovenia with origins in other republics of former Yugoslavia have been still considered in official policy documents and academic work - immigrants. If take them into account, since recently they have a formal mechanism of consultations with the autorities. Based on the declaration adopted in the Parliament in 2011, a council has been established for formal consultations, being consisted from the representatives of minority organisations representing communities from former Yugoslavia in Slovenia, and from representatives of the Government of Slovenia.
Deklaracija Republike Slovenije o položaju narodnih skupnosti pripadnikov narodov nekdanje SFRJ v Republiki Sloveniji (Declaration of the Republic of Slovenia on the situation of the national communities of members of nations of former SFRY in the Republic of Slovenia), http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=20117&stevilka=210. Date of access: 21.1.2012.
External Url http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=20117&stevilka=210
See other countriesSee indicator history Are there migrants' consultative/advisory/representative bodies established by law? If we consider migrants to be those who are not nationals of Slovenia, there are no consultative/advisory/representative bodies established by law. In the Slovenian circumstances, migrants are sometimes considered also nationals of Slovenia with origins in former Yugoslavia. In their case there is a formal consultative body for consultations with the authorities established by a legal document adopted in the Parliament.
The actual migrants, having no citizenship of Slovenia, don't have consultative/advisory/representative bodies established by law.
On the other hand, citizens of Slovenia with origins in other republics of former Yugoslavia have been still considered in official policy documents and academic work - immigrants. If take them into account, since recently they have a formal consultative/representative/advisory body in relations to the authorities to deal with their situation and formal solutions for minority recognition. Based on the declaration adopted in the Parliament in 2011, a council has been established for formal consultations, being consisted from the representatives of minority organisations representing communities from former Yugoslavia in Slovenia, and from representatives of the Government of Slovenia.
However, in May 2012, within austerity measures the new government (appointed in January 2012) dismissed the consultative body at the same time when dozens of other consultative bodies have been eliminated. Although the work of the consultative body - holding few consultations (meetings) a year - costs almost no single cent, the Government used an austerity argument to shut it down, despite written complaints from the associations of nationals of Slovenai with origins in former Yugoslavia.
"Država ignorira jugoslovanske manjšine" (The state ignores the minorities from former Yuglavia), Dnevnik, 13 August 2012, http://www.dnevnik.si/slovenija/v-ospredju/1042546477 (access 15 January 2013).
There is no data available on ethnic structure of employees in public administration in Slovenia (it is not allowed to collect such data). Without formal data it is only possible to make conclusions based on observations, according to which there is very small number of Roma employed in public administration.
Without formal data on ethnic structure of employees in public administration and based on observations it is possible to conclude that Roma community is most deprivileged in access to employment in public administration, mostly because of lack of adequate education and insufficient public policy measures to support education and recruitment of Roma in that field. There are very few members of Roma community employed in public administration: a female police officer has been recruited from Roma community several years ago and as such represents a good practice, but it is still an exception rather than a rule; there are Roma assistants to teachers temporarily employed in dozens of elementary schools, but it is not clear if the possition will be kept on permanent basis in the system of education. There are few members of Roma community employed on permanent or temporary basis at national public service broadcasting (employees of PSB are considered pubic servants and their status is regulated through respective regulations).
According to some documents there is significant number of members of ethnic minorities in the army.
"Romska skupnost" (Roma community), Office for National Minoritie, http://www.uvn.gov.si/si/manjsine/romska_skupnost/. Date of access: 22.1.2012.
"Demografska, etnična in migracijska dinamika in njen vpliv na Slovensko vojsko" (Demographic, ethnic and migration dynamics in Slovenia and its impact on the Slovenian Army), ed. Janja Žitnik Serafin, Institute for Slovenian emigration and migration, Ljubljana, 2009, http://isim.zrc-sazu.si/eknjiga/Zitnik-ur.pdf. Date of access: 22.1.2012.
"Pojavi etnične diskriminacije v javni upravi, vojski in policiji v Republiki Sloveniji" (Cases of ethnic discrimination in public administration, army and police in Slovenia), in: Perspektive slovenske integracijske politike (Prospects for the Slovenian integration policy), eds. Miran Komac and Mojca Medvešek, Institute for Ethnic Studies, Ljubljana, 2006, http://www.inv.si/DocDir/projekti/percepcija_slo_int_pol_Bela_krajina_koncni_2.pdf. Date of access: 22.1.2012.
External Url http://www.inv.si/DocDir/projekti/percepcija_slo_int_pol_Bela_krajina_koncni_2.pdf
See other countriesSee indicator history Is there automatic citizenship acquisition by birth for migrant children born in the country? No, acquisition of citizenship by birth (when the child is born in Slovenia) is connected to Slovenian citizenship of at least one parent.
At birth natural person obtains Slovenian citizenship by law i) when both parents are Slovenian citizens, ii) when the child is born in Slovenia and at least one parent is a Slovenian citizen (in the latter case the acquisition of the citizenship by law is combined with the territorial principle, and iii) if the child is born abroad and one of the parents is Slovenian citizen while the other parent is unknown, of non-determined citizenship or stateless.
Country Report for Slovenia, EUDO Citizenship Observatory, by Felicita Medved, December 2009, revised May 2010, http://eudo-citizenship.eu/docs/CountryReports/Slovenia.pdf. Date of access: 21.1.2012.
External Url http://eudo-citizenship.eu/docs/CountryReports/Slovenia.pdf
The conditions that must be fulfilled for regular naturalisation are very strict. The applicant: i) has to submit a release from current citizenship, ii) must have lived in Slovenia for ten years, of which the five years prior to the application must be without interruption, iii) must fulfil the requirements that he/she does not constitute a threat to public order or the security and defence of Slovenia, that he/she has fulfilled his or her tax obligations and has a guaranteed permanent source of income, iv) must have a clean criminal record, v) must have elementary level of command of the Slovene language, etc.
In 1999 the National Assembly adopted the Resolution on the immigration policy which was followed by the 2002 Resolution on the migration policy of the Republic of Slovenia. There is no explicit formal definition of integration but the Resolution on the immigration policy defines integration policy as one of three elements of immigration policy.Slovenia has several policy documents concerning social and/or community cohesion but there is no formal definition of the term.
In 1999 the National Assembly adopted Resolucija o imigracijski politiki Republike Slovenije [Resolution on the immigration policy of the Republic of Slovenia]. The resolution defines integration policy as one of three elements of immigration policy and refers to the measures of the state and the society ensuring favourable conditions for quality life of immigrants, encouraging integration and enabling the immigrants to become responsible participants of the social development of Slovenia. The Resolution takes into consideration the cultural plurality of the Slovenian society and builds its goals on the principles of equality (equal social, economic and civil rights), freedom (right to expression of cultural identity, respect of integrity and dignity of each individual to maintain his or her culture in accordance with the law and fundamental values of the Republic of Slovenia) and cooperation (right to engagement and responsibility of everyone in the process of creation of a common society).
The 2002 Resolucija o migracijski politiki Republike Slovenije [Resolution on the migration policy of the Republic of Slovenia] includes all the provisions of the Resolution on the immigration policy regarding integration, adding active prevention of discrimination, xenophobia and racism to the list of measures of the integration policy.
In 2007 the Ministry of Education developed Strategija vključevanja otrok, učencev in dijakov migrantov v sistem vzgoje in izobraževanja v Republiki Sloveniji [Strategy for inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia], identifying goals and measures. Among them are additional Slovenian language classes provided to children with migrant background in schools for which schools receive funds from the state.
The 2011 Zakon o tujcih [Aliens Act] contains a chapter on inclusion/integration of aliens stating, that the Republic of Slovenia provides conditions for integration of aliens with residence permits into cultural, economic and social life of the Republic of Slovenia. Article 106 of the Aliens Act provides for integration programs for aliens – non-EU citizens:
- programs for learning Slovenian language and acquainting with Slovenian history, culture and constitutional arrangement;
-programs for mutual familiarity and understanding with Slovenian citizens;
- informing aliens regarding their integration in the Slovenian society.
Source: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=2002106&stevilka=5265; http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=2002106&stevilka=5265; http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c843; http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=201150&stevilka=2360
There is no explicit formal definition of integration.
There is no explicit formal definition of integration. In 1999 the National Assembly adopted Resolucija o imigracijski politiki Republike Slovenije [Resolution on the immigration policy of the Republic of Slovenia]. The resolution defines integration policy as one of three elements of immigration policy and refers to the measures of the state and the society ensuring favourable conditions for quality life of immigrants, encouraging integration and enabling the immigrants to become responsible participants of the social development of Slovenia. The 2002 Resolucija o migracijski politiki Republike Slovenije [Resolution on the migration policy of the Republic of Slovenia] includes all the provisions of the Resolution on the immigration policy regarding integration, adding active prevention of discrimination, xenophobia and racism to the list of measures of the integration policy.
Source: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=199940&stevilka=1991; http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=2002106&stevilka=5265
See other countriesSee indicator history To which groups does the integration strategy apply? Basic group are migrants with temporary residence permit in the duration of minimally one year.
The 1999 Resolucija o imigracijski politiki Republike Slovenije [Resolution on the immigration policy of the Republic of Slovenia] refers to immigrants (to which its integration policy applies) as aliens with temporary residence permit in the duration of minimally one year.
Strategija vključevanja otrok, učencev in dijakov migrantov v sistem vzgoje in izobraževanja v Republiki Sloveniji [Strategy for inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia] from 2007 contains a wider definition of migrants and includes children that already have Slovenian citizenship and cannot be considered migrants, but for different reasons are not fully integrated into Slovenian society yet.
Article 106 of the 2011 Zakon o tujcih [Aliens Act] defines the groups of aliens, entitled to free-of-charge participation in programs for learning Slovenian language and acquainting with Slovenian history, culture and constitutional arrangement:
- aliens – non-EU citizens residing in Slovenia based on permanent residence permit and their family members with temporary residence permit based on family reunification, regardless of the duration of their stay in Slovenia;
- aliens – non-EU citizens residing in Slovenia based on temporary residence permit issued with the validity of minimum one year;
-aliens – non-EU citizens that are family members of Slovenian citizens or EU citizens residing in Slovenia based on the residence permit for family members, regardless of the duration of their stay in Slovenia.
Source: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=199940&stevilka=1991; http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c843; http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=201150&stevilka=2360
In accordance with Article 106 of the 2011 Zakon o tujcih [Aliens Act] Slovenia provides integration aid to non-EU citizens residing in Slovenia:
- programs for mutual familiarity and understanding with Slovenian citizens;
In 2007 the Ministry of Education have also developed Strategija vključevanja otrok, učencev in dijakov migrantov v sistem vzgoje in izobraževanja v Republiki Sloveniji [Strategy for inclusion of children and students with migrant background in the educational system in Slovenia], identifying goals and measures. Among them are additional Slovenian language classes provided to children with migrant background in schools for which schools receive funds from the state.
Source: http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=201150&stevilka=2360; http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/razvoj_solstva/projekti/enake_moznosti/#c843
The effectiveness of integration strategy can be measured through the statistics of migrants, participating in integration programs stipulated in the Aliens Act.
The Ministry of Interior reports that in 2010 1186 migrants participated in the program for learning Slovenian language, 19 migrants participated in the program of acquainting with Slovenian history, culture and constitutional arrangement and 1061 migrants took the Slovenian language exam.
In April 2010 the ministry also established a web page in Slovenian and 6 other languages http://www.infotujci.si , containing information for migrants. In 8 months of its functioning 25.000 visits of the webpage were recorded, average 3.123 visits per month.
In January 2011 the ministry also launched a TV and web campaign ‘Učim se slovensko, da bom lahko povedal, kdo sem’ [‘I am learning Slovenian so I will be able to say who I am’]. According to the ministry the campaign has a simple message – encouraging migrants to participate in courses of Slovenian language, since this will eliminate language barriers and encourage faster and easier integration into Slovenian society.
Source: http://www.mnz.gov.si/fileadmin/mnz.gov.si/pageuploads/DMI/Statisticno_porocilo_-_SLO_-_Lektorirano_01.pdf; http://www.infotujci.si ; http://www.mnz.gov.si/nc/si/medijsko_sredisce/novica/article/12027/6956/
See other countriesSee indicator history Is there a formal national strategy on social and/or community cohesion? Yes.
In 2000 the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs adopted Program boja proti revščini in socialni izključenosti [Program against poverty and social exclusion], deriving from the awareness of the importance of measures for decreasing social exclusion, a complex social phenomenon that can never be completely eliminated, demanding constant activities and measures to decrease both poverty and social exclusion, aimed at long-term social exclusion of individuals and their families. The program envisions a number of strategic, legislative and other measures to effectively combat social exclusion and poverty.
In 2004 Nacionalni akcijski načrt o socialnem vključevanju (2004-2006) [National action plan on social inclusion (2004-2006)] was adopted. Priority goals for the period 2004-2006 were to increase the educational level of the active population, decreasing structural disparities in order to decrease the number of long-term unemployed persons, inclusion of young unemployed adults into employment programs, increasing employability of disabled persons, increase of employment and development of social partnership.
In 2008 Nacionalno poročilo o strategijah socialne zaščite in socialnega vključevanja 2008-2010 [Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010] was submitted in the framework of the EU Open Method of Coordination. The national report includes Nacionalni akcijski načrt za socialno vključevanje [National Action Plan for Social Inclusion] which sets three priorities: income support to weaker members of the society in order to prevent social exclusion, inclusive labour market for combating poverty and social exclusion and ensuring access to social services.
Source: http://www.mddsz.gov.si/si/delovna_podrocja/sociala/socialna_zascita_preprecevanje_revscine/
The 2008 Nacionalno poročilo o strategijah socialne zaščite in socialnega vključevanja 2008-2010 [Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010] only operates with the terms social cohesion and social inclusion but does not provide a definition.
The 2000 Program boja proti revščini in socialni izključenosti [Program against poverty and social exclusion] provides only the definition of social exclusion (accumulation of exclusion or limited participation in key resources, institutions and mechanisms that enable civil, economic, social and mutual inclusion of groups and individuals into society).
See other countriesSee indicator history Does the social cohesion strategy apply to all migrant/minority groups? Yes.
The 2008 Nacionalno poročilo o strategijah socialne zaščite in socialnega vključevanja 2008-2010 [Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010] and the included Nacionalni akcijski načrt za socialno vključevanje [National Action Plan for Social Inclusion] contain a section on combating discrimination and social inclusion of migrants and Roma. The second priority of the national action plan (inclusive labour market for combating poverty and social exclusion) aims at increasing of the inclusion of vulnerable groups into labour market, including the long-term unemployed, persons over the age of 50, young adults, disabled persons, members of ethnic groups, refugees, Roma and women. Among others the planned activities include projects for migrants and their children, refugees and their children and Roma.
Source: http://www.mddsz.gov.si/fileadmin/mddsz.gov.si/pageuploads/dokumenti__pdf/npsszsv08_10.pdf
Self-identification is not sufficient for recognition of minority rights in Slovenia. Muslims face obstacles in exercising their religion having no mosque. Positive measures in the field of media vary substantially from minorities considered for traditional to those considered for "immigrant" communities. Hate speech in public life is frequent and mostly connected with the issues raised in political debate. Racist chanting at sport events occurs on regular basis.
Self-identification is not a sufficient criterion for recognition of status of national/ethnic minority in Slovenia (for minority communities without such status).
On the other hand, in the case of the Italian and the Hungarian national minority a self-identification of members of these minority communities is a condition for exercizing double voting rights.
In Slovenia, it is considered that formal status of national/ethnic minority is recognised to those minorities to whom the Consititution of the Republic of Slovenia grant such status explicitly defining the scope of minority protection (as in the case of Italian and Hungarian national minorities) or obliging the state to define the scope of minority protection in the legislation (as in the case of Roma).
The legislation, the policy measures and the mandate given to the Governmental Office for National Minorities follow that order established by the Constitution. Therefore, despite the fact that huge number of members of other nations of former Yugoslavia (Albanians from Kosovo, Bosniaks, Croats, Macedonians, Montenegrins and Serbs) hold Slovenian citizenship and in the circumstances after the break of Yugoslavia de facto form national minorities in Slovenia, such status is not yet legally recognised to them (neither in the Consitituition nor in the sector-specific regulation). These national minorities have been self-identified and self-organised in dozens of minority associations and in joint umbrella organisation, making joint efforts to gain formal status of minorities. In 2003 for the first time they submitted a formal request to the Parliament of Slovenia for recognition of status of national minorities, but it has been denied to them. They have been considered "immigrants" and certain financial support was provided to their associations for cultural activities by the Ministry of Culture. However, in 2011, the Parliament adopted a resolution providing obligations of the state to form a joint body with these national minorities and find ways to intensify support for protection of their cultural identity. It has been considered a step of soft recognition without amending the Consitution (it seems that change of the Constitution in the sense of formal and full recongition of minority status to these minorities have no support of most of political parties in Slovenia). Despite that recent progress made in relations between the state and the organisations of national minorities from former Yugoslavia, it remains uncertain if their status and rights will be regulated in more details in near future, stipulating concrete measures to address their needs and demands for minority protection.
In their monitoring reports, various international organisations have been constantly criticizing the Government of Slovenia for being slow in addressing the situation of minorities from former Yugoslavia, and accordingly include them on equal basis in the system of minority protection instead of sustaining a hierarchical model of minority protection (with Hungarian and Italian minorites with full scope of minority protection, a Roma minority with certain level of protection, and minorities from former Yugoslavia with rudimental protection.)
On the other hand, a request for self-identification of individuals in Slovenia for members of a national minority as a condition for exercizing certain minority right is applied in the case of respect of double voting rights for the members of the Italian and the Hungarian community in Slovenia.
It means that members of these two national minorities to which the Constitution and the legislation provide respect for number of minority rights have to demonstrate self-identification with the minority if want to be registered in the special electoral register. The registration enable them to exercize double voting rights on local (in the municipalities which are considered those inhabited by the minority community) and on national level (to elect a member of the parliament which represent the national minority).
Second opinion on Slovenia, Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorites, Council of Europe, 2005, http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_2nd_OP_Slovenia_en.pdf. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
Third opinion on Slovenia, Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities, Council of Europe, 2011, http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_3rd_OP_Slovenia_en.pdf. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
Human Rights Report on Slovenia, 2010, US Department of State, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eur/154451.htm. Date of access. 20.1.2012.
ECRI Third Report on Slovenia, 2007, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eur/154451.htm. Date of access: 20.1.2012.
Slovenia and European Standards for the Protection of National Minorities, 2002, Information and Documentation Centre on the Council of Europe, Institute for Ethnic Studies, Austrian Institute of East and Southeast European Studies, Ljubljana, http://www.investsciencesee.info/pub.pdf. Date of access: 25.1.2012.
External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_2nd_OP_Slovenia_en.pdf
There are around 50 associations of numerous minority communities in Slovenia whose members hold Slovenian citizenship and belong to nations of former Yugoslavia (Albanians from Kosovo, Bosniaks, Croats, Macedonians, Montenegrins and Serbs), and which have been still in some policy documents and research reports considered immigrants. The associations are mainly engaged in cultural field, although they form also national associations and an umbrella organisation of all of them which is active in a dialogue with the government and the parliament of Slovenia, requesting recognition of minority status and better measures of minority protection.
The actual migrant population in Slovenia i.e. foreign nationals with temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia in vast majority also originate from the same countries/nations, therefore it is possible that some of them are members of the above mentioned minority associations. However, considering difficulties the migrant workers in Slovenia face especially in relation to their labour rights, some migrant workers and activists are organised in associations such as Invisible Workers of the World which gather also other activists for social justice.
"Every ninth resident of Slovenia is an immigrant", Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 1.1.2012 http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4430.Date of access: 19.1.2012.
Raziskava "Položaj in status pripadnikov narodov nekdanje Jugoslavije v Sloveniji" (Research on the situation and the status of the member of nations of former Yugoslavia in Slovenia), ed. Vera Kržišnik Bukić, 2003, http://www.uvn.gov.si/fileadmin/uvn.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf_datoteke/Raziskava_Polozaj_in_status_pripadnikov_narodov_nekdanje_Jugoslavije_v_RS.pdf. Date of access: 19.1.2012.
Nevidni delavci sveta (Invisible workers of the world, IWW), Slovenia, http://www.njetwork.org/IWW-Nevidni-delavci-sveta. Date of access: 19.1.2012.
External Url http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4430
There are no restrictions of freedom of association or peaceful assemby of minorities in Slovenia. According to a study which included data provided by the register of associations hold by the Ministry of Interior, there are around 80 associations on local level established by minority communities in Slovenia (Italian, Hungarian, Roma, Gersman speaking, Albanian, Bosniak, Croatian, Macedonian, Montenegrin and Serbian minority). They mostly work in the field of culture. On national level they are in case of Italian and Hungarian minorities organised in "self-governing national communities" and in the case of other minorities in national associations (national associations of local cultural associations).
External Url http://www.uvn.gov.si/fileadmin/uvn.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf_datoteke/Raziskava_Polozaj_in_status_pripadnikov_narodov_nekdanje_Jugoslavije_v_RS.pdf
Members of the Muslim community in Slovenia face practical obstacles in exercising their religion since there is not yet a mosque built in Slovenia.
The Muslim community in Slovenia has been affected by the lack of adequate space for exercising its religion ifor decades, making at the same time efforts in administrative and political procedures to get permits for location of a mosque. Meanwhile, members of the Muslim community pray in some improvised prayer rooms, and in case of the biggest holidays they hire a sports halls for joint praying.
Since 2008, when the City of Ljubljana adopted key spatial planning documents allowing for the construction of the first mosque in Slovenia, there are prospects for the Muslim community to gain adequate space in near future for exercising its religion despite some difficulties and controversies.
In 2011, the international architectural competition for the conceptual design of the mosque in Ljubljana was organised by the Islamic Community in Slovenia and the City of Ljubljana, and the solution was selected by members of the international committee, including the leader of the Islamic Community in Slovenia. According to the information provided by the Islamic Community to the media, it is expected to build the mosque in Ljubljana (with the financial support of Quatar) until 2015.
Mosque in Ljubljana, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ljubljana_Mosque. Date of access. 18.1.2012.
Islam in Slovenia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Slovenia. Date of access: 18.1.2012.
"Kdaj temeljni kamen za islamski center?" (When a founding stone for the mosque?), Delo, 6.11.2011, http://www.delo.si/novice/slovenija/kdaj-temeljni-kamen-za-islamski-center.html. Date of access: 19.1.2012.
ECRI Report for Slovenia, 2007, http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_03/03_CbC_eng/SVN-CbC-III-2007-5-ENG.pdf. Date of access: 19.1.2012.
External Url http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_03/03_CbC_eng/SVN-CbC-III-2007-5-ENG.pdf
Yes, but range of positive measures vary substantially from minorities that are considered for traditional to those considered for "new" or "immigrant" communities.
Italian and Hungarian minority in Slovenia are granted right to develop activities "in the field of public media and publishing" as a constitutional right. Since considered traditional/autochtonous minorities in Slovenia a range of rights is provided in the Consititution to protect their national identity. The rights are operationalised through sector regulation, including the regulation on national public service broadcasting organisation (RTV Slovenia), which provide programming for both Italian and Hungarian minorities in their languages, separate units within national public service broadcasting have been established to provide the programming, and also representatives of both minorities participate in the governing body of the national public service broadcasting organisation. The framework for such minority protection of Italian and Hungarian community in Slovenia was established in previous socialist regime (and within former Yugoslavia), and has been continued after the change of the regime and establishment of independent Slovenia.
Since 2005, Roma community is also integrated in the national public service broadcasting organisation RTV Slovenia, based on the 2005 legislation. A weekly radio program and a fortnightly television program for Roma community are prepared mostly by Roma journalists and aired in both Roma and Slovenian language.
Other minorities, such as minorities from other former republics of Yugoslavia - Albanians, Bosniaks, Croats, Macedonians, Montenegrians and Serbs - have not been provided with special rights within the national public service broadcasting. Although numerous and organised not only in number of associations, but also in an umbrella organisation (coordination) which demands better presence in the national public service broadcasting, they are still kept outside the PSB system in Slovenia. In 2010 the new law on public service broadcasting was adopted providing certain level of integration for them, but the right-center oppostion in the parliament requested a national referendum which resulted with rejection of the law. Still, the actual management of the national public service broadasting organisation it its 2012 annual plan indicates that program content for these minorities will be introduced based on general provisions in the regulation of the PSB in Slovenia.
Italian and Hungarian minorities also publish print media, while Roma publish some periodical journals. Roma community also run own local radio. All of the mentioned media, including RTV Slovenia, receive financial support from the Governmental Office for National Minorities for media activities for Italian, Hungarian and Roma minority. Publishing of journals by minority communities from former Yugoslavia and others is supported by the Ministry of Culture.
Beside that, two student radio stations in Ljubljana and Maribor provide space for Roma community, communities from former Yugoslavia (mostly Bosniaks) and actual migrant workers' association to regularly prepare and air programming on the issues relevant for them.
"Minorities and the Media in Slovenia" by Brankica Petkovic, a chapter in the book Media and Minorities in South East Europe, edited by Thomas A. Bauer, Vienna: South East Europe Media Organisation, 2006, http://rci.mirovni-institut.si/Docs/Brankica_Petkovic.pdf and http://www.seemo.org/publications/medmin.html. Date of access: 15.1.2012.
External Url http://rci.mirovni-institut.si/Docs/Brankica_Petkovic.pdf
There are positive measures for promoting minority languages in the media, but the range of the measures is not equal in the case of all minority languages.
Positive measures for promoting minority languages in the media include regular programming in Hungarian and Italian language at national public service broadcasting, and also print media in these two minority languages.
Roma language in the media is also promoted through the national broadcasting organisation, but with purpose to reach national audiences and bridge differences between Roma dialects the radio program for Roma is bilingual where Slovenian language often dominates. Roma language is also promoted through programming of local Roma radio station "Romic" and journals and newsletters published by Roma associations.
In all above mentioned cases the state is providing financial support for promotion of minority languages and protection of national identity of the above mentioned minority communities in Slovenia (Italian, Hungarian and Roma).
Minority languages such as Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and other languages of minorities from former Yugoslavia are not promoted in that way in the media, only through rare radio programming of student radio stations in Ljubljana and Maribor, or through web media, print journals and newsletters (which receive some small funding from the state).
The reports of the Expert Committee of the Council of Europe within evaluation of the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages have been critical to the Slovenian government in relation to promotion and protection of Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian language in Slovenia, referring to the need for better presence and promotion of the minority languages in the media.
The media regulation stipulates restriction for publishers and brodcasters registered in Slovenia to publish or broacast media content in other languages than official Slovenian language without translation (except for Italian and Hungarian languages on the specific territory). Exception is made in the regulation in the case if the programming is primarily intended for readers, listeners or viewers from other language group.
Third evaluation report of the Expert Committee on Slovenia within monitoring of implementation of the European Charter, 2009, http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/minlang/Report/EvaluationReports/SloveniaECRML3_en.pdf. Date of access: 14.1.2012.
Mass Media Act, 2006, http://www.apek.si/sl/datoteke/File/2007/osebna%20izkaznica/public_media_act_official_consolidated_version_zmed+zmed-a_unofficial_translation_english.pdf. Date of access: 14.1.2012.
"Minorities and the Media in Slovenia" by Brankica Petkovic, a chapter in the book Media and Minorities in South East Europe, edited by Thomas A. Bauer, Vienna: South East Europe Media Organisation, 2006, hhttp://ttp://rci.mirovni-institut.si/Docs/Brankica_Petkovic.pdf and http://www.seemo.org/publications/medmin.html. Date of access: 15.1.2012.
External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/minlang/Report/EvaluationReports/SloveniaECRML3_en.pdf
There is visible presence of media professionals with minority background, but in many cases they are engaged in the media production targeting minority audiences.
The biggest media employer in Slovenia is a national public service broadcasting organisation Radio and Television Slovenia, where separate units for production of programming for Italian and Hungarian community operate and employ media professionals from these communities.
Similar situation is with Roma participation in the programming aired on national radio and televisions. Roma media professionals work in the production of the two shows/program items intended for Roma community.
Very rarely media professionals with Hungarian, Italian or Roma background are visible within other programming than those intended for their communities.
In the case of minorities from former Yugoslavia it is the case that media professionals with ethnic background in some of these communities, for instance Bosniak, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian etc., are visible in the mainstream media, including national public service broadcasting organisation, and involved in coverage of various subjects. (On the other hand their communities are not provided with special programming within national PSB and have no professional media run by their associations.)
"Minorities and the Media in Slovenia" by Brankica Petkovic, a chapter in the book Media and Minorities in South East Europe, edited by Thomas A. Bauer, Vienna: South East Europe Media Organisation, 2006, http://rci.mirovni-institut.si/Docs/Brankica_Petkovic.pdf. Date of access: 15.1.2012.
There are certain restrictions in Slovenia for foreign nationals for participating at certain level of competition on national level in certain sports or to gain certain status in sports. Qualitative Info
Restrictions for foreign nationals in Slovenia for participating at certain level of sports competitions on national level or gaining certain status have been established by the sports legislation or by rules of national sport associations.
For example, in case of football the EU nationals have unlimited access to all levels of competition of all age categories, provided that an individual player is registered with the Football Association of Slovenia. On the other hand, a club may register an indefinite number of third country nationals, but only three may appear at the matches of the First National Football League for seniors. In addition, in all lower senior leagues, a club may accredit only one player for a specific match.
In alpine skiing, a foreign skier, be it the EU national or the third country national, may be registered with a Slovenian club only upon the approval by the Ski Association of Slovenia and the Internationa Ski Federation.
With regard to athletics, only foreign nationals with the permanent residency permit, and those who have registered with the Athletics Association of Slovenia, may participate at all types of national championships in all age categories. Other groups of foreigners may only appear at senior level competitions, whereby they are excluded from 100 and 200 m races. With respect to indoor competitions, they are only entitled to compete in qualifying rounds.
According to current legislation the status of the top level sportswoman/sportsman can only be granted to Slovenian citizens; the status provides various benefits covered by the state budget.
Also, according to the Rules on Scholarships for Working in the Field of Sport, only Slovenian citizens may apply for scholarships.
As for the private work in sports, it may be performed by a foreign individual, provided that he/she obtained appropriate level of education, has a licence for performing work in sports, has not been by a court order banned to perform work in the relevant domain, has approved command of Slovenian, and has been in possession of the permanent residence permit.
Racism, ethnic discrimination and exclusion of migrants and minorities in sport: A comparative overview of the situation in the European Union, 2010, http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Report-racism-sport_EN.pdf. Date of access: 19.1.2012.
Preventing racism, xenophobia and related intolerance in sport across the European Union, Country Report Slovenia, 2009, Peace Institute.
Members of minority communities in Slovenia (holding Slovenian citizenship) are formally entitled to participate in sports and sport competitions on all levels. In practice, the scope of participation is higher in certain sports and almost nonexistent in others.
There is a number of indicators of high participation of members of minority communities such as minorities from former Yugoslavia and also Roma, in football clubs and competitions on all levels, including the national team.
On the other hand the participation of members of minority communities in alpine skiing - which is considered a national sport - is almost non-existant.
The studies mostly explore that phenomenon considering the role of specific sports in nation buidling. According to the studies, the perceived features of the Slovenian national character, such as, for example, diligence, discipline, honesty and courage, were attached to skiing, while football remained a practice belonging to the Balkans and characteristic of immigrants, originating from the republics of the former Yugoslavia. However, with the tremendous success of the Slovenian national team, qualifying for the Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002, the football became a celebrated feature of the national character also, but the fact that the team has been composed of a substantial number of players by origin from former Yugoslavia was not used as a tool for inclusion and celebrating diversity and contribution of players with minority background, but instead football was perceived as a tool for the transformation of indisciplinable immigrants into "real" Slovenians.
There are many Roma football clubs on the local level, some of them competing with other clubs in the 3rd Slovenian football league. In the season 2008/2009 it happened that a Roma club qualified for participation in the 3rd league to compete with other non-Roma clubs, but could not participate because the infrastructure, including the size of the playground was not in accordance with the regulation. Later, they managed to improve the infrastructure and qualitfied for the competition in the 3rd league. Recently, the Roma Sports Association has been established by a senior Roma football player.
Article "Šport kot socialna arena nacije v Sloveniji" (Sports as a social arena of a national idea in Slovenia), published in the scientific journal Razprave in gradivo, No. 50-51/2006, http://www.inv.si/DocDir/Publikacije-PDF/arhiv/RIG%2050_51/17starc.pdf and with English abstract at http://www.dlib.si/preview/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-7SHWKWYR/bedc13ec-52e6-4e80-b1f5-b1b25bb4c172. Date of acces: 19.1.2012.
Article "Platini enthusiastic about Roma in Slovenia", Slovenian Press Agency, 26.7.2011, http://www.siol.net/sportal/nogomet/2011/07/platini_se_je_srecal_s_slovenskimi_romi.aspx. Date of access: 19.1.2012.