Human Rights Ombudsman
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ISSN 1318–9255 Human Rights Ombudsman – Slovenia Seventeenth Regular Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia for the Year 2011 Abbreviated Version Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia Dunajska cesta 56, 1109 Ljubljana Annual Report 2011 Slovenia Telephone: + 386 1 475 00 50 Fax: + 386 1 475 00 40 E-mail: [email protected] www.varuh-rs.si Seventeenth Regular Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia for the Year 2011 Abbreviated Version Ljubljana, September 2012 Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman for 2011 1 2 Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman for 2011 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA Dr Gregor Virant, President Šubičeva 4 1102 Ljubljana Mr President, In accordance with Article 43 of the Human Rights Ombudsman Act I am sending you the Seventeenth Regular Report referring to the work of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia in 2011. I would like to inform you that I wish to personally present the executive summary of this Report, and my own findings, during the discussion of the Regular Annual Report at the National Assembly. Yours respectfully, Dr Zdenka Čebašek - Travnik Human Rights Ombudsman Number: 0106 - 4 / 2012 Date: 3 May 2012 Dr Zdenka Čebašek - Travnik Human Rights Ombudsman Tel.: +386 1 475 00 00 Faks: +386 1 475 00 40 E-mail: [email protected] WWW.VARUH-RS.SI Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman for 2011 3 1. THE OMBUDSMAN’S FINDINGS, OPINIONS AND PROPOSALS 10 Slovenia in Brief 22 2. CONTENT OF WORK AND REVIEW OF CASES HANDLED 26 2.1 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ........................................................... 26 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 26 2.1.1 Ethics of public statement language ................................................... 26 2.1.2 Assembly and association. ................................................................. 27 2.1.3 Voting right .......................................................................................... 28 2.1.4 Protection of personal data and privacy .............................................. 31 2.1.5 Access to information of public character ........................................... 33 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 35 CASES ............................................................................................................... 36 2.2 DISCRIMINATION ............................................................................ 38 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 38 2.2.1 Mechanisms of protection against discrimination ............................... 38 2.2.2 National and ethnic minorities ............................................................. 39 2.2.3 Rights of persons with disabilities ....................................................... 45 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 46 CASES ............................................................................................................... 47 2.3 RESTRICTION OF PERSONAL LIBERTY ..................................... 49 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 49 2.3.1 Detainees and convicted persons ....................................................... 49 2.3.2 Persons with mental disorders and persons in social welfare institutions ........................................................................................... 54 2.3.3 Aliens and applicants for international protection ............................... 56 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 58 CASES ............................................................................................................... 60 2.4 ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ..................................................... 62 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 62 2.4.1 Findings from initiatives handled ......................................................... 62 2.4.2 Quality of judicial decision-making ...................................................... 64 2.4.3 Free legal aid ...................................................................................... 67 2.4.4 Minor offences .................................................................................... 68 2.4.5 Fine enforcement by imprisonment ..................................................... 69 2.4.6 State Prosecution Office ..................................................................... 69 2.4.7 Attorneyship ........................................................................................ 70 2.4.8 Notaries ............................................................................................... 70 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 71 CASES ............................................................................................................... 73 4 Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman for 2011 2.5 POLICE PROCEDURES .................................................................. 78 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 78 2.5.1 Findings from cases handled .............................................................. 78 2.5.2 Shortcomings in appeal procedures ................................................... 80 2.5.3 Private security and traffic warden services ........................................ 81 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 82 CASES ............................................................................................................... 83 2.6 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ......................................................... 85 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 85 2.6.1 Citizenship .......................................................................................... 85 2.6.2 Aliens .................................................................................................. 85 2.6.3 Denationalisation ................................................................................ 85 2.6.4 Taxes and customs duties ................................................................... 86 2.6.5 Property law matters ........................................................................... 86 2.6.6 War disabled, victims of war violence and veterans of war ................ 86 2.6.7 Registration of residence .................................................................... 87 2.6.8 Social activities ................................................................................... 87 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 88 CASES ............................................................................................................... 89 2.7 ENVIRONMENT AND SPATIAL PLANNING ................................... 91 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 91 2.7.1 Land with water use and issue of permissions for the use of water.... 92 2.7.2 Emission monitoring ............................................................................ 92 2.7.3 Pollution of the environment ............................................................... 92 2.7.4 Other matters ...................................................................................... 93 2.7.5 Inspection procedures ......................................................................... 93 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 94 CASES ............................................................................................................... 95 2.8 PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES .......................................................... 96 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 96 CASES ............................................................................................................... 97 2.9 HOUSING MATTERS ....................................................................... 99 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 99 2.9.1 Expulsion from housing and dwelling units ......................................... 99 2.9.2 Subsidising rents ................................................................................. 100 2.9.3 Tenants in denationalised apartments ................................................ 100 2.9.4 Housing inspection .............................................................................. 101 2.9.5 Other matters ...................................................................................... 101 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 101 CASES ............................................................................................................... 102 Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman for 2011 5 2.10 EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ........................................................... 104 GENERAL .........................................................................................................