The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia noted and condemned a rise in hate speech related to the refugee crisis as they issued statements on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Monday.

The Human Rights Ombudsman pointed to the problems faced by the erased and the Roma population in Slovenia, while also highlighting a surge since last August in hate speech directed against refugees.

The office singled out a statement by a journalist openly advocating shooting at refugees and urged against granting any kind of legitimacy to expressions of hate.


SOURCE: STA (Slovenian Press Agency)

El Síndic de Greuges ha solicitado información a los ayuntamientos de las localidades de Vilalba dels Arcs (Terra Alta) y de Sant Carles de la Ràpita (Montsià) para saber cuáles son las previsiones respecto al mantenimiento o la retirada de los monumentos afines al movimiento franquista que aún conservan.

Ambos monumentos, construidos en plena dictadura, deberían ser retirados de acuerdo con la Ley estatal 52/2007, del 26 de diciembre, conocida como Ley de memoria histórica o de memoria democrática.

Con la entrada en vigor de la citada normativa se reconocen y se amplían derechos y se establecen medidas a favor de aquellos que sufrieron persecución o violencia durante la Guerra Civil y la dictadura, y se propugna la supresión de este tipo de construcciones de enaltecimiento del bando vencedor de la Guerra Civil española y del régimen político totalitario resultante.

La institución ha actuado por iniciativa propia a raíz de las informaciones publicadas en los medios de comunicación sobre la existencia de un monumento de exaltación del régimen franquista en el municipio de Vilalba dels Arcs, en la plaza Major del municipio. Del mismo modo, ha decidido abrir una investigación ante el conocimiento de la existencia de un monumento de exaltación del régimen franquista en el municipio de Sant Carles de la Ràpita, en el espacio conocido como La Torreta.

A principios del año 2016 el Síndic emitió una resolución en que recomendaba al Ayuntamiento de Tortosa que retirara el monumento conmemorativo de la batalla del Ebro sin hacer una consulta popular previa. En aquella resolución Rafael Ribó destacaba que la retirada del monumento es una obligación legal que el Ayuntamiento debe promover.

El Síndic alerta de que la asignatura pendiente en el Estado español es afrontar el pasado y hacer justicia, tal como destaca un informe del relator especial de las Naciones Unidas para la promoción de la verdad, la justicia, la reparación y las garantías de no-repetición, Pablo de Greiff. 

En lo que respecta a las garantías para que no se repitan determinados hechos y conductas, el Síndic pide respeto, políticas pedagógicas y un compromiso firme de las autoridades para adoptar medidas concretas.

En el Día Internacional del Pueblo Gitano, el Defensor del Pueblo reitera su compromiso con esta comunidad y subraya la constante labor que realiza para lograr la eliminación de estereotipos y la remoción de los obstáculos que todavía hoy impiden su plena integración y la igualdad real y efectiva.

“Los gitanos son ciudadanos de pleno derecho en España”, ha asegurado la Defensora del Pueblo, Soledad Becerril, para quien “la comunidad gitana ha logrado progresos significativos; sin embargo, existen aún situaciones que requieren la atención de los poderes públicos y de toda la sociedad para conseguir que puedan ejercer sus derechos en igualdad con el resto de los ciudadanos”.

El Defensor del Pueblo, en colaboración con las distintas asociaciones que trabajan por la integración de la comunidad gitana, realiza actuaciones para la eliminación de estereotipos y la remoción de los obstáculos que todavía impiden su igualdad real y efectiva.

En 2015, la Institución logró que la Real Academia Española de la Lengua aceptara su sugerencia de incorporar a su Diccionario una nota de uso para advertir del significado “ofensivo o discriminatorio” de las acepciones “trapacero” y “trapacería” en la definición de las palabras “gitano” y “gitanada”.

Ahora, el Defensor ha iniciado una actuación ante la Dirección General de Servicios para la Familia y la Infancia (Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad), para conocer las medidas llevadas a cabo para favorecer la escolarización del alumnado gitano en la enseñanza secundaria obligatoria, a partir de las conclusiones publicadas en el estudio “El alumnado gitano en Secundaria. Un estudio comparado” que pone de manifiesto el alto nivel de abandono escolar en la comunidad.

Dicho estudio señala que los niveles educativos de la juventud gitana se encuentran por debajo de los del conjunto de la población, con una brecha que comienza antes incluso de la finalización de la enseñanza secundaria obligatoria, con algo más de un 60% de jóvenes gitanos que no logra el título de Graduado en ESO, y que se ensancha progresivamente con el comienzo de la educación secundaria postobligatoria.

The Human Rights Ombudsman of the republic of Slovenia has found no violation in a child custody case that prompted the largest opposition party to announce a no-confidence motion against Minister Anja Kopač Mrak.

The case involves two children who had been staying with their grandparents after their father killed their mother but were subsequently sent into foster care.

Based on information acquired from social services, the ombudsman found that the children's rights were not violated in the case, reporters were told at a press conference on Friday.

The officials explained that the children were not taken away from their grandparents but rather from the father, who still has parental rights and gave his consent for the children to be placed into foster care.

Deputy Ombudsman Tone Dolčič said the arguments in favour of foster care in this case were sound. He would not explain further beyond saying they did not concern the grandparents' age or the size of their apartment.

Despite murdering the children's mother, the father still has parental rights, something that Dolčič does not deem right. The social services are in a position to propose he be stripped of the rights by court.

Ombudsman Vlasta Nussdorfer added that while the father had an opportunity to state his opinion in the procedure, the decision was taken by the social services.

Nussdorfer criticised the public and media attention given to the case, arguing that it was not right for "everyone in Slovenia" to be stating their opinion about a case the details of which they did not know.

"What do we do - organise televoting and then reach a judgement in the evening," she wondered, urging the public to calm down for the sake of the children, who are traumatised as it is.

However, even though the ombudsman believes the two children have been well taken care of, Nussdorfer urged the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs to amend legislation so as to give grandparents a say in such procedures.

The ministry responded that it was drawing up comprehensive changes to family legislation which would soon be submitted to public consultation.

The proposals are similar to those contained in the family law which was rejected in a 2012 referendum called by opponents of gay adoptions.

SOURCE: STA (Slovenian Press Agency)

Members of the National Assembly by 60 votes for and 16 against appointed Miha Horvat as the fourth Deputy of Ombudsman Vlasta Nussdorfer on Tuesday, 29. 3. 2016. A deputy's term lasts six years.

Ombudsman Vlasta Nussdorfer pointed out that in the search for a new deputy she conducted a few interviews outside the Human Rights Ombudsman institution, but the people with whom she spoke, already has their career and vision of the future life. She also outlined some of the qualities of the candidate. She said that the university graduate political scientist is just about to graduate in doctoral studies of law, has worked for nine years as a consultant in the field of justice and also as a member of the National preventive mechanism (NPM).

"In short, the young man, highly professional and extremely hardworking, worthy of all my confidence," she described him and addressed the members of the Parliament to give him their voice.

New Deputy Ombudsman Miha Horvat put an oath that he will carry out his tasks in accordance with the Costitution and the Law, that he will protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and will carry out his work conscientiously and impartially, respecting the principles of fairness and good governance.

Deputy Horvat succeed the deputy ombudsman Jernej Rovšek, who retired on 29 February this year. Rovšek was elected as a deputy ombudsman in September 2014 for the fourth time. Ombudsman Vlasta Nussdorfer stated that on the time she proposed Mr. Rovšek to be her deputy, she had in mind that he might not end his term. But it was the move of respect toward a man, who wrote the Human Rights Ombudsman Law (ZVarCP), was co-founder of the institution in Slovenia and act in it for more than 20 years. It was only fair that till his retirement he remained her first deputy not an employee on a lower position, she stressed.