UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 66) Efforts for preventing violence against women continue. A resolution on a national plan for the prevention of family violence and violence against women is in preparation. The resolution will include guidelines for working with sexually abused children. In 2019, Slovenia is preparing the first report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

UN Compilation:
Para 18) The HR Committee and the CESCR were concerned about the high prevalence of domestic violence in Slovenia and the limited effectiveness of mechanisms to protect victims of domestic violence, including the non-enforcement of restraining orders issued against alleged perpetrators.
Para 36) [CEDAW] noted with concern the failure to comprehensively prohibit all forms of violence against women in both the public and private spheres and the lenient sentences imposed by courts on perpetrators of acts of domestic violence. It also noted with concern that the network of shelters and crisis centres did not cover the entire territory of Slovenia and that free counselling and assistance were not accessible to all women who were victims of violence.

National Report:
Para 29) Since 2010, Slovenia signed and ratified the following international treaties:
CoE Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; signed on 8 September 2011.

Para 73) In 2009, Slovenia adopted the Resolution on the 2009-2014 National Programme on Prevention of Family Violence (NPPFV). This strategic document sets out objectives, measures and key players to reduce and prevent domestic violence. The document aims to combine measures implemented by various ministries and provides for effective activities to reduce domestic violence, both in terms of identification and prevention. Therefore, the Resolution also provides for the implementation of a national awareness-raising campaign on the issue of violence and for reducing the extent of such deviant behaviour in every society. Rules were adopted in certain fields to implement the 2008 Family Violence Prevention Act (FVPA), effectively provide assistance to children and cooperate with other authorities.

Para 74) The two-year nation-wide awareness raising campaign "VESNA - to live a life free of violence" officially started on 7 March 2014 with a national conference. The target group is women of three generations (young women, adults and old women), for whom different, target-oriented activities have been envisaged. Activities are tailored to the needs and lifestyle of each target group.

Para 75) Several other sector-specific implementing acts on education, health care, social security, and the police have been passed to implement the FVPA, effectively provide assistance to children and cooperate with other authorities.

Para 76) The Slovenian Research Agency, the OEO and the MoI/Police co-financed the target research project "Violence and Responses to it in the Private Sphere and Partnerships". At the end of 2010, the results of the first empirical national research on violence in the private sphere and partnerships were published, and followed at the end of 2011 by analyses on the work of the Police, courts and social services concerning violence against women and domestic violence. The research has shown that the number of cases of domestic violence that are detected, identified and processed by institutions is increasing. This is also due to the implementation of legislation that both enables and imposes the obligation of institutions to provide effective assistance to victims and to prosecute offenders. In addition, the number of cases processed also increased as a result of the victims' increased willingness to seek help and the increased awareness and sensitivity of staff in institutions established to help such victims.

Para 77) Adopted in 2013, the Police Tasks and Powers Act significantly upgraded the police restraining order. Police officers may impose such a measure on the offender not only on the scene of the offence, but also immediately after the offender has been apprehended, regardless of location. An offender who has repeatedly violated a restraining order may be detained by the Police and, at the same time, a fine may be imposed. For the cases when the place that the offender must not approach is an education institution attended by a victim who is a child or a minor, the legal basis was added to inform the relevant personnel at the education institutions of the duration of the restraining order or other information vital to the protection of the victim.

Para 78) With a view to raising public awareness, the Police publish on its web page, in several foreign languages, information on domestic violence and on police procedures.

Para 79) Housing capacities for women victims of violence have increased. One of the safe houses has also been adapted for the needs of disabled persons. One crisis centre has been adapted for the needs of older people. The network of crisis centres and shelters expanded to regions in which such services were previously unavailable, and the housing capacities for victims of violence are currently provided for.

Para 80) NGOs caution about the changed criminal offence of threat under Article 135 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates that the threatening of the security of another person without any consequences and when only one person is involved is liable to private prosecution. This change was made particularly due to prosecutors' experience of a large number of withdrawn complaints of injured parties during the later stages of the procedure. The adequacy of this solution is being reviewed in 2014.

Para 81) The available statistics show the improved effectiveness of justice in terms of prosecutions and conviction related to the offence of domestic violence under Article 191 of the Criminal Code.