Presentation of the Human Rights Office
The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia is a constitutional category that does not fall under the executive, judicial or legislative branch of authority. The Ombudsman is therefore not part of any mechanism of authority, but rather acts as an overseer of authority since as an institution it restricts its capricious encroachment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Ombudsman is in his work not only limited to handling direct violations defined as human rights and freedoms in the constitution, moreover, he may act in any case whatsoever dealing with a violation of any right of an individual arising from a holder of authority.
He can intervene also in the case if unfair and poor state administration in relation to the individual. If the aforementioned is considered, it can have a significant impact on the development and increase in legal and administrative culture between holders of authority and the individual.
Human rights ombudsman is in relation towards the state bodies, autonomous and independent agency.
In accordance with the law, the Human Rights Ombudsman regulates its organisation and work in rules and regulations and other general enactments. In the rules and regulations the ombudsman has provided that a service of the Human Rights Ombudsman is organised within the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, which is headed by the general secretary of the ombudsman.
Organizational structure
The ombudsman, deputy ombudsmen, officials and authorised employees of the office of the ombudsman have office identity cards. These cards bear a photograph and contain details of the holder and what the holder is authorised for.
The office of the ombudsman comprises the expert service of the ombudsman and the service of the general secretary.
The Secretary General shall decide on the use of funds for the work of the Ombudsman Bureau.
The Secretary General shall be responsible for her/his work to the Ombudsman.
The director of the Expert Service or some other official appointed by the Ombudsman shall deputize for the Secretary General in her/his absence.
The matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman are divided into fields, which are specified by the Ombudsman taking into account the subject related problems, organizations and types of procedures before the state bodies and other bodies, for which he is empowered and the consistency of expert fields.
Each field shall fall within the competence of one of the Deputy Ombudsmen. In connection with his/her work, a Deputy Ombudsman shall have, in the field falling within his/her competence, all the powers that are granted to the Ombudsman by the Act. The Ombudsman may grant general or special authorizations to the officials and employees of the Ombudsman Bureau for the investigation or other activities they must perform.
The business time of the Ombudsman Bureau is from Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
The Ombudsman may also perform his work out of office.
The Ombudsman and the Deputy Ombudsmen shall have talks with petitioners at the previously agreed times. Has the time of a talk not been previously agreed upon, yet a petitioner wishes to have a talk, he/she shall have it with an expert employee or adviser who shall be appointed by the Secretary General.
Petitions to start the proceedings before the Ombudsman and other complaints and letters shall be received by the Main Office.
