On 13 January 2023, in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 4/2023, the Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina issued a public call to non-governmental organisations from the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms protection to appoint a member of the Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVS) Council. In accordance with the Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act (Official Gazette of the RS, nos. 96/05, 109-05 – ZdavP-1B, 105/06 – dec. US, 26/09 – ZIPRS0809-B, 9/14, and 163/22 - ZRTVS-1), confirmed at the legislative referendum on 27 November 2022, the new Council will also include a member appointed by the Human Rights Ombudsman. In accordance with a draw performed on 4 January 2023 by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, the mandate of the member from the ranks of non-governmental organisations from the field of human rights will last four years. The deadline for presenting proposals to the Ombudsman was 30 January 2023 at 3 pm.
As deriving from the ZRTVS-1, the applicant must also append to the explanation of the proposal evidence of the status of a non-governmental organisation and a document from which the decision of the competent body of a particular non-governmental organisation about the candidate they propose is evident. The requirement for the appointment is at least the education acquired according to the second level study programme or the equivalent. The candidate must also possess at least ten years of expert working experience, high personal integrity, moral reputation, and citizenship of Slovenia. Another requirement is that they are ready and able to contribute with their knowledge, reputation or achievements in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms protection to solid operation and reputation of the public radiotelevision, both in Slovenia and abroad.
Also required is an appended statement of the proposed candidate about not being a member of a political party on the national, regional or municipal level and a statement about not performing particular positions defined in the public call.
The applicant must also append a statement that they are not employed by RTVS, do not have any business collaboration with it, and that they are not running for membership of the financial board. They also must not be an immediate family member of the management of RTVS or leading, management or supervisory bodies of legal persons that have a business cooperation with RTVS.
Other required conditions and statements the proposal for candidacy must include are published on the Human Rights Ombudsman’s website and in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia. The Human Rights Ombudsman will consider all proposals that arrive at the address of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the RS (Dunajska cesta 56, Ljubljana) or e-mail address info(at)varuh-rs.si, with all necessary data and statements until 30 January 2023, by 3 pm at the latest.
The Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina joins the call of the President of the Republic of Slovenia and calls on the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the legislature to refrain from adding to the function of the Human Rights Ombudsman by laws or other regulations more competencies than those stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia.
