ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2019 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2019 FOR OF THE REPUBLIC SLOVENIA OMBUDSMAN OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ANNUAL 2019 THE 25th ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2019 Ljubljana, June 2020 Human Rights Ombudsman of Republic of Slovnia Dunajska cesta 56, 1000 Ljubljana Legend: Ombudsman’s commendations Ombudsman’s warnings Ombudsman’s new recommendations Ombudsman’s new recommendations from other chapters 2 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN 3 OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION BY THE OMBUDSMAN AND PRESENTATION OF THE OMBUDSMAN’S WORK IN 2019 .......................................................... 11 1.1 INTRODUCTION BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN ........................................................13 1.2. THE HEAD OFFICE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REP. OF SLOVENIA ... 26 1.3 THE OMBUDSMAN, HIS DEPUTIES, SECRETARY GENERAL AND EMPLOYEES IN 2019 ....... 27 1.4 ACCESS TO THE OMBUDSMAN AND OPERATIONS OUTSIDE THE HEAD OFFICE IN 2019 ... 30 1.5 STATISTICS FOR 2019 .................................................................................................................32 1.6. THE OMBUDSMAN AS THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTION ............................... 34 1.6.1 The Human Rights Council ............................................................................................. 34 1.6.2 The Human Rights Centre .............................................................................................. 35 1.6.3 Paris Principles on the status of national human rights institutions ........................... 39 1.7 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ..............................................................................................42 1.8 THE OMBUDSMAN AS THE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM ......................................50 1.9 CHILD ADVOCACY ..................................................................................................................... 53 1.10 RELATIONS WITH THE MEDIA IN 2019 ...................................................................................61 1.11 LEGAL BASES OF THE OMBUDSMAN’S WORK ...................................................................... 63 1.12 FINANCES ................................................................................................................................ 67 2. CONTENT OF WORK AND REVIEW OF CASES HANDLED ...........................71 A. Vulnerable groups .............................................................................................................. 72 2.1 FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES ............................................ 72 2.1.1 General findings and assessment of the situation .........................................................72 2.1.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman’s past recommendations ............................................73 2.1.3 The Ombudsman’s activities ...........................................................................................74 2.2 NATIONAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES ........................................................................... 75 2.2.1 General findings and assessment of the situation .........................................................75 2.2.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman’s past recommendations ........................................... 78 2.2.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activitie ............................................. 78 2.2.3.1 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 79 2.3 EMPLOYED PERSONS ........................................................................................................ 82 2.3.1 General findings and assessment of the situation ........................................................ 82 2.3.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations .......................................... 84 2.3.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activities ........................................... 85 2.3.3.1 Recommendations ............................................................................................. 85 2.4 UNEMPLOYED PERSONS .................................................................................................. 87 2.4.1 General findings and assessment of the situation ........................................................ 87 2.4.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations .......................................... 89 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN 5 OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2019 2.4.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activities ...........................................90 2.4.3.1 Recommendations ..............................................................................................90 2.5 CHILDREN ......................................................................................................................... 92 2.5.1 General findings and assessment of the situation ........................................................ 92 2.5.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations ........................................... 94 2.5.2.1 The Ombudsman‘s past recommendations discussed in other chapters ........ 95 2.5.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activities ........................................... 96 2.5.3.1 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 96 2.6 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ....................................................................................... 104 2.6.1 General findings and assessment of the situation .......................................................104 2.6.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations from other sections ........107 2.6.3 The Ombudsman’s activity and new recommendations from other sections ........... 110 2.6.3.1 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 110 2.7 THE ELDERLY ................................................................................................................... 117 2.7.1 General findings and assessment of the situation .........................................................117 2.7.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations .......................................... 119 2.7.3 The Ombudsman’s activity and new recommendations from other chapters ............121 2.7.3.1 Recommendations ..............................................................................................121 2.8 LGBTI+ ..............................................................................................................................124 2.8.1 General findings and assessment of the situation ....................................................... 124 2.8.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations .........................................126 2.8.3 The Ombudsman’s activity and new recommendations from other chapters ..........126 2.8.3.1 Recommendations ............................................................................................126 2.9 FOREIGNERS ...................................................................................................................128 2.9.1 General findings and assessment of the situation ...................................................... 108 2.9.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations ......................................... 134 2.9.2.1 The Ombudsman’s past recommendations discussed in other chapters .......135 2.9.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activities ..........................................136 2.9.3.1 Recommendations ............................................................................................136 B. Substantive fields discussed .............................................................................................139 2.10 EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW AND PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION .......................139 2.10.1 General findings and assessment of the situation .....................................................139 2.10.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman‘s past recommendations ........................................140 2.10.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activities ..........................................141 2.10.3.1 Recommendations ............................................................................................141 2.11 PROTECTION OF DIGNITY, PERSONAL RIGHTS, SAFETY AND PRIVACY .........................144 2.11.1 General findings and assessment of the situation ...................................................... 144 2.11.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman’s past recommendations .........................................148 2.11.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activities .........................................149 2.11.3.1 Recommendations ............................................................................................149 6 2.12 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ............................................................................................ 151 2.12.1 General findings and assessment of the situation .......................................................151 2.12.2 Realisation of the Ombudsman’s past recommendations .........................................154 2.12.3 The Ombudsman’s new recommendations and activities .........................................155