Project description (Word file)

Strengthening the national institutional structure for the fight against discrimination
within the scope of the Transition Facility 2005, CRIS No. 2005/017-462.04

The Slovenian legal framework, and acquis communautaire specifically, requires the government to adopt appropriate measures for ensuring legal protection to any victims of discrimination and demands effective encouragement of equal treatment. The government’s commitment to the active fight against discrimination is a constituent and inseparable part of the system for protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
A number of governmental bodies and authorities are included in the system of fighting discrimination, each with its own competencies, within various protective and incentive mechanisms. We have found in the course of our work that the national institutional structure for providing an efficient fight against discrimination has been established, nevertheless, it could produce better results. The existing structure, including the Human Rights Ombudsman, could in our view be better equipped to systematically fight the numerous and less obvious forms of discrimination.  From our perspective a more functional system could be achieved, particularly by involving the transfer of practical experience and expert knowledge on the underlying issues to the widest range of key institutions, organisations and individuals encountering the issue of discrimination. The Ombudsman welcomes and supports all efforts made in this area thus far and is committed to contribute as much as possible to this important common goal.

He has therefore initiated the project "Strengthening the National Institutional Structure for the Fight Against Discrimination" within the scope of the Transition Facility 2005, CRIS No. 2005/017-462.04. The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM) is the Austrian partner co-operating with the Ombudsman on this project. Together we want to prepare, by utilising European funds, a series of educational seminars and workshops for training the people employed in the office of the Ombudsman along with other target groups, including public sector employees and representatives of civil society. These events will be a good opportunity for exchanging experience and for discussing good solutions and deficiencies in the existing system.

First stage of the project

The first stage of the project will include the seminar Train the trainer with the aim of ensuring efficient general training of a smaller group of professionals. It will include employees at the Human Rights Ombudsman and we also intend to include representatives from ministries, government bodies, and civil society. The seminar will be organised in the form of an intensive one-week, i.e. five-day, education session, planned for mid-June with the purpose of educating professionals who will actively use the acquired knowledge and experience in their work, as well as disseminate it. The seminar will be based on established and internationally tested methodology emphasising an interactive approach and the use of group dynamics among participants. This training will be administered by foreign experts. The first stage of the seminar will place emphasis on raising awareness and recognising discriminatory practices, as well as confronting the participants with (their own) prejudices. The second stage will include intensive education on legal concepts, methods and techniques of proving discrimination. Then the participants will play different roles in a simulated court case (Moot Court). That will be followed by a stage where participants will be assisted in developing particular skills and thinking about the strategies concerning their work.

Second stage of the project

Participants at the Train the trainer will be invited to actively participate in other activities within the project's framework. The second stage will include a series of seminars focusing on individual areas of discrimination (e.g. the issue concerning the effectiveness of legal remedies and legal means, discrimination at work, etc. – see Enclosure 2: The List of Seminars) and particular target groups. 
By implementing this project, the Ombudsman wants to contribute to providing conditions that will result in better work of the entire structure for effectively fighting discrimination. We believe that this could have an impact on the scope of case law, which has been small in volume thus far, and which in our view does not reflect the actual problems in society. We believe that the proposed activities can increase society’s sensitivity regarding the issue of discrimination. Increased awareness and improved skills could have, as we see it, a significant long-term impact on the development of democratic culture, tolerance and coexistence, by fully respecting differences. This could undoubtedly contribute to eliminating many causes of violations of all other human rights and fundamental freedoms.