Slovenia

1 - WILLINGNESS TO APPLY THE CRPD.
Do you feel that the political and administrative authorities of your country are strongly committed to/involved in fully implementing the CRPD?

Slovenia ratified the Convention on 28th April 2008. Slovenia has supported the adoption of the Convention from its outset and therefore very actively participated in the drafting of the Convention. Thus, the representative of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities participated in the design and coordination of positions within the European Community, as in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee. Slovenia formulated its proposals on the basis of preliminary consultations with people with disabilities and disability organizations.

 

2 - FOCAL POINTS.
Have the focal points (i.e. points of contact) provided for in article 33-1 of the CRPD been designated in your country?

The Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities has been assigned as the main focal point within the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for matters related to implementation of CRPD.

In order to meet the implementation of the Article 33 of the Convention in particular, Council of Persons with Disabilities was established on 28.10.2013 as independent Body, which members are representatives of representative disability organizations, representatives of professional institutions in the field of disabilities matters as well as representatives of the Government of the RS.

 

3 - ROLE.

What is, or will be, their role?

Council of Persons with Disabilities of the Republic of Slovenia has the following roles:

  • to monitor the development and implementation of the programs in the field of disability policy and makes suggestions for their development and implementation;
  •  during the public hearing the applicant, the laws and regulations give an opinion on the laws and regulations relating to the protection of persons with disabilities;
  • to participate in the preparation of reports on the implementation of national programs and to give an opinion on the reports;
  • to submit the Government of the Republic of Slovenia suggestions, proposals and recommendations concerning the protection of persons with disabilities;  
  • to monitor the cooperation between ministries and professional institutions and organizations of persons with disabilities;
  • to promote and monitor the implementation of the Law on Ratification of the Convention and the Optional Protocol to the Convention (Official Gazette - International Treaties, no. 10/08);
  • to perform other tasks in accordance with the rules adopted for governing  the Council.

 

4 - COORDINATION OF ACTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRDP AND FOCAL POINTS.
How are the focal points and the actions for the CRPD's implementation coordinated?

All actions for the CRPD's implementation are coordinated by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities – The Directorate of Persons with Disabilities.

5 - PROMOTION OF THE CRPD.
How does your country go about promoting the CRPD?

Promotion of the CRPD is carried out by different national or local entities. Overall, the focal ones are Government Press Office, Council of Persons with Disabilities, all state authorities, disability organizations (NGOs), public institutions, National Radio and TV Slovenia, Slovenian Press Agency, public institutions in the field of education and health, other media.
 

6 - PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS INCLUDED IN THE CRPD.
Which national authority is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of the rights included in the CRPD?

The Slovenian Government is responsible for ensuring that the CRPD is implemented.

 

7 - MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRPD.
In your country, which authority is in charge of monitoring the implementation of the CRPD?

Human rights ombudsman is in charge of monitoring the implementation of the CRPD. Ombudsman evaluates the progress being made by the Slovenian Government in the matters concerning the CRPD and report on that progress to the UN. They provide advice and information to persons with disabilities, national and local organisations and to general public. Furthermore, when rights of persons with disabilities are violated, they shall report to authorities.

 

8 - ROLE OF ASSOCIATIONS OF BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS. How are the associations of blind or visually impaired persons involved in the implementation of the CRPD?

The Union of Blind and Partially Sighted of Slovenia with its regional Associations and other NGOs have a major role in raising awareness about the CRPD through the media. They provide information to its members and to the general and professional public on the latest changes on the CRPD matters as well as they stress the issues of the accessibility for persons with disabilities to information, media and to the built environment.

 

9 - ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
Have any additional resources (human or financial) been been made available for the implementation of the CRPD?

No additional resources have been allocated for implementing the CRPD.

 

10 - CRPD IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING REPORT.
Depending on the date on which your country ratified the CRPD, is it required to submit a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? If it is, has it done so?

Yes, Slovenian Government and the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities have prepared this report in April 2014 (28. 4.2014). The report should be submitted to UN in the near Future.

 

11 - SHADOW REPORT.
Have the associations of persons with disabilities presented the so-called shadow report?

The associations of persons with disabilities haven't presented yet the shadow report.

12 - COMMENTS.

Do you have any comments on the implementation of the CRPD in your country?

Although Slovenia is the third EU country that ratified the CRPD in April 2008, the independent Body (Council of Persons with Disabilities) responsible for monitoring and supervising the implementation, as defined in Article 33, was formed only at the beginning of 2014. National Council of Disability Organizations of Slovenia observes that the provisions of the Convention are mostly solid implemented, however, the Ombudsman of the RS points out that most of the violations of the rights of persons with disabilities still remains hidden.