Advocate of the Principle of Equality
SLOVENIA: The Advocate of the Principle of Equality
- Overview
The Advocate of the Principle of Equality is the slovenian national Equality body and idependent and autonomous state institution with a mandate to prevent and eliminate discrimination. Its main task are related to awareness raising and promotion of equality, support and assistance to victims of discrimination as well as non-binding decision-making with recomendation issuing regarding the reported cases of discrmination on various grounds.
- Brief history
The Advocate of the Principle of Equality was established as an independent and autonomous national equality body in 2016 with the Protection against Discrimination Act. The new Advocate of the Principle of Equality (Head of equality body) was elected in October 2016, by the national parliament, upon the proposal of the President of the Republic, on the basis of the Protection against Discrimination Act (PADA)
Until 2016, The Advocate used to be a special post, not a legal entity and is nominated by the Government for a fixed period of 5 years. The Advocate’s position and mandate is regulated by the Act. The Advocate first operated within the Office for Equal Opportunities (OEO) which was established in February 2001 by the decision of the government (internal organizational act) as a successor of the former Office for women’s policy (originally established in July 1992). OEO’s duties were predominately concerned with policy making in gender mainstreaming. OEO was abolished in April 2012 and its task are now preformed by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
- Mandate type
- Combined tribunal-type and promotion-type
- Litigation powers
- Representing in front of courts
- Bringing proceedings in own name
- Intervening before the court
- Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) legally binding
- Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) Not legally binding
- The Advocate has a mix of quasy judicial and promotional duties, i.e. can support vicims in legal proceedings with remedies (counseling), or can provide guidance to prevent and dismantle discrimination.
- Activities
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Activities aimed at supporting vulnerable groups (e.g. through trainings) no yes no no yes no no no no no Activities aimed at supporting duty bearers such as employers and service providers (e.g. through trainings, guidance material, practical support, etc.) no yes yes yes yes no no no no no Communication activities (e.g. awareness raising campaigns) no yes yes no no no no no no no Recommendations on discrimination issues no yes yes yes yes no no no no no Publications and reports no yes no no no no no no no no Research projects (including surveys) no no no no yes no no no no no - Our institution has a mandate to deal with:
- Violence against women
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Hate crime
- Hate speech
- not specific mandate, but when it overlaps with discrimination, the Advocate can deal with these, and has also a general duty to report crimes. Some of the issues are also dealt with by promotional activities.
- Other statistics
-
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Number of inquiries handled per year (all contact even if not resulting in a formal complaint) 66 94 75 65 no data 51 no data no data no data no data Number of cases handled per year (case files opened and processed according to your procedures) no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data no data Number of media appearances per year (major newspapers/magazines/websites/blogs, TV + radio channels) - does not include social media 5 15 5 5 no data no data no data no data no data no data - Management
- Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)
- 2 members of staff
- Management details
The institution Advocate of the Principle of Equality is currently being run by eponyomus person. In the office there are also two other persons employed who are taking care for the legal businesses.
- Number of staff dealing with equality issues
-
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 no data 1 1 1 1 no data no data no data no data no data - Grounds and fields of discrimination covered by the equality body
Grounds / Fields Employment Education Housing Social Protection & Healthcare Goods & Services Other Gender yes yes yes yes yes Gender Identity yes yes yes no yes Race and Ethnic Origin yes yes yes yes yes Age yes yes yes yes yes Disability yes yes yes yes yes Sexual Orientation yes yes yes yes yes Religion & Belief yes yes yes yes yes Other grounds : Gender Expression, Social Status, Property Status, Other
- Mandate covers:
- Public sector
- Private sector
- Operating budget in euros
- Operating budget in euros for the parts of the organisation dealing with equality issues (all types of functions).
- We are accountable to:
- National Parliament
- and the Government (Annual report)
Main Informations
Related News
Slovenian Advocate of the Principle of Equality on road to becoming independent and effective equality body
In 2016, a new Protection from Discrimination Act entered into force in Slovenia, thus resulting in the Advocate of the Principle of Equality developing into an autonomous state body. This recent evolution brings about the potential to improve and increase the protection of persons at risk of discrimination in Slovenia, together with the opportunity to create a truly independent and effective equality body.
Cooperation of the Advocate of the Principle of Equality with the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights
Within the context of international bilateral cooperation, the idea of cooperation on a specific project surfaced in discussion with the Dutch Embassy in Slovenia. The cooperation project was carried out in October 2017, beginning with the visit of the delegation from the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, their peer review, and organisation of a public discussion on discrimination in the workplace based on gender and age in Ljubljana. The series of events concluded in December 2017 with the visit of a delegation of the Advocate of the Principle of Equality from Slovenia to Utrecht. The delegation partook in an education and presentation event of the Dutch equality body and visited one of the Dutch non-governmental organisation, dedicated to fighting discrimination.
Equinet Calendar 2019
Equality bodies assist victims of discrimination in a wide variety of ways. This calendar highlights some of the work that our members do to promote equal treatment in their respective countries.
