On 25 October 2023, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina and colleagues worked in the City Municipality of Ptuj, where they were available for citizens of the region who believe that their rights are being violated. In the morning, he met with the CEO of the Dr Miran Potrč General Hospital Ptuj Aleksander Voda and the Technical Director Teodor Pevec. Dr Potrč informed the Ombudsman that inhabitants of the Spodnje Podravje region will finally get an emergency centre which will ensure their equal treatment in relation to inhabitants of other regions.
After talking to complainants, the Ombudsman also met with the Mayor Nuška Gajšek, who informed him of the municipality’s activities in advocating for citizens’ rights. During the discussion with 15 complainants none of them mentioned any issues pertaining to the operation of the municipality, the Ombudsman told the Mayor. They also exchanged experience with the unresponsiveness of some state bodies and emphasised the problem of inter-ministerial harmonisation on the national level. The Ombudsman again stressed the obligation of state officials to follow the principles of good governance, reply within mandatory deadlines, and in favour of inhabitants of Slovenia.
In the discussions with the complainants the Ombudsman and his colleagues were acquainted with problems in the fields of social transfers and family and neighbourly disputes, in which the Ombudsman cannot intervene. A greater number of complaints pertained to social circumstances of individuals, while two cases involved a widow’s and a survivors pension. In a statement after the talks and meeting with the Mayor, the Ombudsman highlighted that the question of low pensions is very pressing since they do not guarantee survival. “The state must solve this systemically. The solidarity system, which we have within pension insurance, must ensure that those with the lowest pensions do not fall below the poverty threshold,” said the Ombudsman and added that, as in the case of the minimum wage, a social agreement would also be needed about the minimum pension that enables a decent standard of living.
Together the Ombudsman and the Mayor also opened the 43rd Ombudsman’s Corner, which brings the Ombudsman’s work in an analogue manner closer to people of the municipality and directs them to turn to the institution if they detect that their rights have been violated. At the Ombudsman's Corner, people will be able to pick up a form for filing a complaint with the Ombudsman, read the annual report about the Ombudsman's work, and get leaflets informing citizens about the Ombudsman’s work, and information leaflets informing citizens about when they can turn to the Ombudsman for help.
Mayor Gajšek commented that she and the Ombudsman had a completely general conversation about all kinds of problems people face. “We certainly cannot solve everything but, both on the local level and the Ombudsman, are doing our best,” she said, adding that they are available to help their citizens with their problems at all times via various channels.
