On 15 December 2023, Slovenian Scouts once again brought the Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina the Light of Peace from Bethlehem. This year’s message Bridging and Illuminating encourages solidarity, help to fellow human beings in distress, and bridging differences. “We are building a bridge where there is none. We are lighting a light where it does not yet burn,” is the main message carried forward this year.

The Ombudsman was gratified about the message since he himself was delivering the same at the recent reception upon International Human Rights Day. He reminded the participants to devote special attention to solidarity and emphasised that it is due to this and care for others that the human race has made it through many difficult critical moments throughout history. The Ombudsman finds that we cannot solve problems with the same kind of thinking that brought us into trouble, thus it is our responsibility to step outside the established pattern we have built over time. “To overcome divisions and disagreements and reconnect as a community. This is the only way that we can successfully overcome the existing crises and the new ones that will probably be impossible to avoid in the future,” rounded up the Ombudsman in his missive with the same message he delivered to the Scouts.

The Ombudsman sincerely thanked the Scouts for their gift of the Light of Peace which comes from an environment where many people cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel due to war. Once again, he expressed his hope for peace, solidarity, and cooperation during reconstruction.