Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Miro Cerar, and the Human Rights Ombudsman, Mr Peter Svetina, opened the round table. Minister Cerar reminded the participants that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, along with its Optional Protocols, has greatly improved the situation of children in the decades since its inception. He reaffirmed Slovenia’s commitment to continue striving for the well-being of children, both at home and worldwide, and went on to underline the importance of the cooperation of different stakeholders.

Representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the Police, the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, the ITF Enhancing Human Security, and a Junior UNICEF Ambassador gave an overview of their international activities.

The participants confirmed that Slovenia is an important and visible advocate of children's rights in the international community that, through its numerous activities, makes a significant contribution to the well-being of children around the world. There was a consensus that these activities also have a positive effect on the protection of children's rights in Slovenia.

The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989, the most widely ratified international treaty on human rights, with as many as 196 States Parties. It was upgraded on 25 May 2000 with two Optional Protocols, respectively on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) and on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC). On 19 December 2011, a third Optional Protocol on a communications procedure was adopted on the initiative of Slovenia and a group of other countries.