Assistant to the head of the Center for Human Rights, Dr. Simona Drenik Bavdek, on behalf of the institution of the Ombudsman, participated in the training of Slovenian and Croatian non-governmental organisations in the promotion of European values, which took place from 14 to 15 May 2024, in Medulin, Croatia. At the training, she presented the powers and operation of the institution of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman).

"The Ombudsman is an independent state institution that takes care of the protection and promotion of human rights in Slovenia. Every year, it prepares an annual report in which it makes a number of recommendations addressed to various authorities. The Ombudsman monitors the government and limits its arbitrariness in interfering with human rights and fundamental freedoms. Children's Advocacy works within the Ombudsman, which enables children's voices to be heard in various procedures in which they are involved. Another special organisational unit within the Ombudsman is the National Preventive Mechanism, which checks the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty by visiting closed institutions and prevents torture and other inhumane treatment. It is important to be aware that the competence of the Ombudsman is complementary to other human rights protection mechanisms. Individuals can contact various institutions, but the institution of the Ombudsman is the only national human rights institution in the country, and the procedure at the Ombudsman is anonymous, free, and informal," pointed out Dr. Drenik Bavdek.

The training within the Impact4values ​​project, which is carried out by the Center for Information, Cooperation and Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CNVOS), the Foundation for Local Community Development (Slagalica) and the Foundation for Human Rights and Solidarity (Solidarna), is aimed at strengthening non-governmental organisations that, with their activities promote and protect European values. It is attended by representatives of 47 non-governmental organisations, who after the training will be able to contribute more effectively to the protection, promotion and awareness of human rights and the values ​​of the European Union.