Permanent Mission of India, Geneva

Working Group of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) - 20th Session

 (27 October – 7 November 2014)

UPR of Slovenia – Interactive Dialogue

(4 November 2014 - 0900-1230 hrs)

Statement by India

Mr. President,

1. India welcomes the delegation of Slovenia led by H.E. Goran Klemencic, Minister of Justice, and thanks them for presenting a comprehensive overview of action taken to implement first UPR recommendations.

2. We acknowledge the progress made by Slovenia in consolidating institutional framework for the protection and promotion of human rights. It is encouraging to note that Slovenia is examining modalities to strengthen the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman so that it becomes fully compliant with the ‘Paris Principles’.

3. We commend the steps taken by the Government of Slovenia to safeguard social protection for the most vulnerable population groups and reduce number of persons at risk of poverty, including the two new Social Acts adopted in 2010.These are noteworthy given the challenges posed by economic crisis and the consequent austerity drive. We also take positive note of the Youth Guarantee scheme and implementation plan for 2014-15 that aims to offer employment (including internship) to every young person between 15-29 years and promote faster integration of unemployed youth with the labourmarket. We recommend that the scheme is implemented without discrimination and sufficient budget allocated for its effective implementation.

4. We welcome the National Programme of Measures for Roma People (2010-2015) and the Legal Status Act 2010 relating to nationals of Former Yugoslavia. However, concerns remain, as expressed by a number of Treaty bodies, at the continuing discrimination faced by Roma and the so-called “erased people”. The Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has raised concerns about the public manifestations of hate speech and intolerance towards minorities. We recommend that Slovenia take comprehensive measures to protectthe rights of national minorities and promote their full integration into society.

5. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has noted that Slovenia remains a country of origin, destination and transit for trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. We welcome the amendments to the Criminal Code expanding the definition of human trafficking and the reform of the Inter-ministerial Working Group on the Fight against Trafficking. We recommend that Slovenia redouble its efforts with a special focus on trafficking in children.

6. We wish the delegation of Slovenia the very best in their endeavor to further promote and protect human rights in their country.

Thank you Mr. President.

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