Slovenian Human Rights Ombudsman activities

Human Rights Ombudsman Simona Drenik Bavdek has conducted various interventions and consultations regarding social and civil rights in Slovenia.

In Sežana, the Ombudsman met with residents and local officials to address potential rights violations related to social affairs, institutional procedures, and the interpretation of regulations. Discussions included the accessibility of social work facilities and the challenges of elderly care. The Ombudsman noted the municipality’s proactive approach to issues such as immigrant integration and youth retention.

Subsequently, the Ombudsman addressed specific legal and dignity-based concerns regarding burial rights. In Nova Gorica, she ruled that municipal regulations requiring cremation for state-funded funerals violated constitutional rights to personal dignity and the right to choose burial methods. She recommended legislative changes to the National Assembly to address this. Additionally, the Ombudsman submitted an intervention to the Constitutional Court regarding the burial of war and post-war victims, emphasizing the human rights of victims and their relatives in the dispute between the state and the Municipality of Ljubljana.