On 15 May 2025, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a decision[1]typo3/ _ftn1 to appoint the members of the Expert Council for Child Advocacy.

Maša Gril, Majda Pušnar, Majda Struc, Sonja Molan, Tatjana Mušič Seničar, Vojka Lipovšek Polc, Nataša Prelesnik Korošic, and Peter Steničnik have been appointed as the new child advocate coordinators on the Expert Council. Sara Geiger Smole, Dr Nadja Hriberšek, Anja Tekavčič, Urška Leban Guzej, and Dr Marko Kalan have been appointed as representatives of the professional public and non-governmental organisations. Staša Sitar and Simona Mikec have been appointed as the new advocate representatives, while Jasna Vunduk and Lea Javornik, MSc, will serve as the latest representatives of the Ombudsman.

The mandate of the members of the Expert Council is set at three years, starting from the date of its constitutive session. The tasks of the Expert Council are defined by the General Act on the Method of Implementing Child Advocacy, the Organisation of Advocacy, the Inclusion of Children in Advocacy, and the Tasks, Composition, and Method of Work of the Expert Council. The Expert Council conducts its work in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Expert Council for Child Advocacy, adopted on 29 October 2020. The Deputy Ombudsman responsible for the field of child advocacy convenes the meetings and, in accordance with the law, chairs the Expert Council.

Seven candidates responded to the public call. As all of the applicants met the necessary criteria, they have been appointed as members of the newly composed Expert Council. 

[1] Pursuant to Paragraph 4 of Article 25a of the Human Rights Ombudsman Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, Nos. 71/93, 15/94 – amended, 56/02 – Public Employees Act, 109/12, 54/17, and Article 20 of the General Act on the Method of Implementing Child Advocacy, the Organisation of Advocacy, the Inclusion of Children in Advocacy, and the Tasks, Composition, and Method of Work of the Expert Council (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 44/18).

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