"If we want to be truly inclusive, we have a never-ending task ahead of us," underlined Deputy Human Rights Ombudsman Dr. Dijana Možina Zupanc today, 28 February, at a conference in honour of the first Inclusion Day in the Republic of Slovenia. In her contribution to the National Assembly, she pointed out, among other things, the many open areas that we as a society must address if we want to become truly inclusive, and emphasised that the basis of inclusion is respect for the human rights of everyone.

"At the Ombudsman, we constantly point out the importance of respecting human rights as a key element of an inclusive society. We are the voice of those who are often overlooked by society," she said, pointing to the example of a woman who was not recognised as having an occupational disease due to a lack of proper documentation, which affected her rights. Such cases are a reminder of systemic shortcomings for which the Ombudsman demands solutions, she stressed.

Although progress can be seen in some areas, there are still many challenges, such as the social gap between social groups, poverty, and social exclusion, especially among the elderly and the unemployed. "That is why we at the Human Rights Ombudsman so often emphasise the need to strengthen social programmes and increase the accessibility of society. This is not only measured in the physical accessibility of facilities, which we at the Ombudsman have been particularly concerned with in recent years and have warned authorities, including the government, about the consequences of ignoring regulations and conventions. It is also measured in accessibility to services, which we have drawn attention to, for example with our analysis of the accessibility and responsiveness of general and family medicine clinics, which has shown many anomalies in the system," she pointed out.

She also reminded Assembly Members that while digitalisation and advanced technological solutions bring many advantages, they can also become a source of exclusion, especially for those who find it difficult to keep up with rapid technological changes. "That is also why we at the Ombudsman draw attention to the need for solutions that will take into account the needs of all residents and promote accessibility and equal inclusion," she said.

She also drew attention to the numerous challenges faced by people with disabilities, to decision-making on issues relating to vulnerable groups without their participation, and to the challenges in integrating minorities and immigrants. She assessed that by changing legislation alone, but without changes in the mindset of society, we will not achieve true equality. "That is why awareness-raising, education, and the strengthening of critical thinking are key, starting from childhood," warned Deputy Ombudsman Dr. Možina Zupanc.

She also pointed out the importance of (more) respectful public discourse and assessed that without a culture of dialogue, we cannot truly change society towards lasting prosperity and progress for all. According to the Ombudsman's findings, the erosion of accountability is also an important challenge that needs to be addressed. "Unreasonably long and complicated decision-making procedures, unequal treatment and ineffective supervision, lack of an obligation to explain, and I could go on and on. In short, the violation of the principle of good governance is one of the most common violations of human rights and all of this is also a reflection of the state (values) of society," the Deputy Ombudsman added. She also emphasised that an inclusive society is based on trust, dialogue, and a community effort for justice. "Slovenians have already proven that we are a socially responsible community that cares about the well-being of others. By joining forces, we can co-create a society based on respect and dignity for all its members. "Let today be the impetus for steps towards a society where diversity becomes a source of strength and dialogue is the key to justice and inclusion," she added.