The thesis examines the role and functioning of the Human Rights Ombudsman in Slovenia. It first explains the importance of informal protection of rights and then presents the most common mechanism of such informal protection, namely the institution of the ombudsman. The following section outlines the development of this form of human rights protection in Slovenia and, in particular, analyzes the actual position and role of this body within the Slovenian legal system, as well as the ways in which it ensures the protection of individuals’ rights. The role, status, competences, and functioning of the ombudsman in Austria are presented in greater detail, followed by an analysis of the similarities and differences between the Slovenian and Austrian models. The research employs the descriptive method and the comparative method.
In the second part of the thesis, an empirical study of the functioning of the Human Rights Ombudsman in Slovenia in the period from 2021 to 2023 is conducted using the analytical method. The study analyzes the number of initiatives received and resolved during this period, the scope and types of violations, as well as the Ombudsman’s recommendations and their implementation. The study is based on the Ombudsman’s annual reports and the government’s response reports. The analysis shows that the types and fields of violations remain similar from year to year, that a number of the Ombudsman’s recommendations are not implemented or are implemented slowly, but that nevertheless many important recommendations are realized, contributing not only to the resolution of individual cases but also to systemic changes. The activities of the Ombudsman thus undoubtedly contribute to better protection of human rights in Slovenia and to improved governance. The thesis also provides several recommendations on how to further enhance the effectiveness of this important institution.
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