Slovenia in the UN Human Rights Council addresses the rights of older persons, healthy environment and human rights education

7. 10. 2022

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva

The Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council concludes its 51st regular session today. Between 12 September and 7 October 2022, the central body of the UN in the field of human rights addressed the most pressing human rights situations around the world and adopted a number of thematic resolutions. At the meeting, Slovenia presented two initiatives in cooperation with partner countries, an initiative on the human rights of older persons and a resolution on human rights education. Slovenian expert Dr Sancin was elected to the Advisory Committee of the Council.

Dvorana XX. Palače narodov med 51. zasedanjem Sveta OZN za človekove pravic | Author Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve

The Slovenian initiatives at the meeting represent the continuation of the long-term processes of the UN Human Rights Council. The first extends the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on the Human Rights of Older Persons, who advocates for the establishment of an international legal instrument on human rights of older persons, while the second supports further development of the World Program for Human Rights Education.

The UN Human Rights Council also elected new members of its Advisory Committee. The Slovenian expert in the field of international law, dr. Vasilka Sancin, has been elected on behalf of the Eastern European regional group.

Among other key priorities at the meeting, Slovenia actively engaged on the topics of clean, healthy and sustainable environment and human rights, children's rights, gender equality, access to clean drinking water and sanitation, human rights in the digital environment and the fight against reprisals by states against human rights defenders.

In a dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, Slovenia expressed concern about the situation of human rights in the areas under Russian occupation in Ukraine, condemned Russia's aggression against a sovereign state and rejected the results of illegal referendums in the four Ukrainian regions. All statements made by Slovenia at the meeting are publicly available here.

At the proposal of the European Union, the UN Human Rights Council extended the work of the Special Rapporteurs for the Situation of Human Rights in Burundi and Afghanistan, as well as the International Commission for Human Rights in Ethiopia. Slovenia also supported the establishment of a new Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Russian Federation.

Slovenia regularly attends the meetings of the UN Human Rights Council as an observer, and is running again for a seat on the Council in the period 2026-2028. It is a proponent of a human rights-based approach to the solutions to contemporary global challenges and inclusive partnerships on thematic issues, while striving for objective consideration of threats to human rights around the world.