News

On the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of 10 December as International Human Rights Day, with this year’s slogan being Human Rights, Our Daily Essence, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon emphasised: »Slovenia strives to contribute to a world in which everyone can live with dignity and enjoy equal opportunities. In the international community, we systematically support human rights as a universal value«.

In 2015, the UN General Assembly, on the initiative of Armenia, passed a resolution establishing 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was one of the first treaties addressing respect for human rights and was adopted one day before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on 10 December 1948. Commemoration and memorialisation efforts not only honour the victims and survivors of genocide, but also serve as effective mechanisms for the prevention of future genocides.

Slovenia is actively contributing to the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security. This week, the Government adopted a new action plan for this area. Women, peace and security are one of the priority areas of Slovenia's membership in the UN Security Council. Slovenia systematically and comprehensively includes women and gender perspectives in the work of relevant international forums.

24 October 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter coming into force– a document that gave humanity new hope after the devastation of the Second World War. The United Nations was established to spare future generations the horrors of war and to provide a shared platform for peace, peaceful coexistence, cooperation and development.

The Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the UN Office in Geneva and the Bled Strategic Forum, in cooperation with Interpeace, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Geneva Call, organised a panel discussion entitled "International Humanitarian Law and Humanitarian Action for Peace: Protecting People, Building Futures."

Slovenia was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term, securing 176 votes in the UN General Assembly in New York. Angola, Chile, Egypt, Ecuador, Estonia, India, Iraq, Italy, Mauritius, Pakistan, South Africa, Vietnam and the United Kingdom were elected alongside Slovenia for this term.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, is paying a visit to Slovenia today and tomorrow at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon. In addition to meetings with senior state representatives, High Commissioner Türk and Minister Fajon participated in a discussion entitled Building Our Common Future, held to mark the 80th anniversary of the UN.

UN Human Rights Council concluded its 60th session. At Slovenia's initiative, the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons was extended, and at the EU's initiative, a mechanism was established to ensure accountability for human rights violations in Afghanistan. Professor Veronika Fikfak, a Slovenian expert, was elected as member of the Council's Advisory Board.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, in cooperation with public research organizations in Slovenia, has produced a scientific diplomacy factsheet, entitled “Slovenia's Research & Innovation landscape”, which contributes to the presentation, promotion, and opening up of Slovenia's scientific research and innovation landscape to the international community.

Today marks the start of the 60th regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Together with several other countries, Slovenia will propose a resolution on the human rights of older persons, aimed at extending the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.

In front of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, CERN's guard of honour raised the Slovenian flag in the presence of Slovenian political leaders, CERN management and invited guests. The ceremony was dedicated to Slovenia's full membership in one of the most prestigious international organisations in the world.

On June 21, 2025, Slovenia officially became the 25th full member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the international organisation, one of the most prestigeous in the world, announced today.

The 59th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council opened today in Geneva and will run until 9 July 2025. Slovenia will pay particular attention to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, while also responding to human rights situations around the world where the state of affairs is particularly worrying.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) is proud to announce its collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to host the region’s first Cyber Capacity Building Workshop on 19-20 May 2025 in Podgorica. This high-level gathering will convene global experts and regional stakeholders to strengthen the Western Balkans’ cybersecurity resilience through two critical streams: addressing the cyber talent shortage and enhancing collaborative strategies against cybercrime.

The 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council concluded in Geneva, with Slovenia as one of the key co-creators of initiatives that contribute significantly to the strengthening of international human rights standards.

On the second day of the high-level segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC 58), the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations in Geneva hosted a high-level side event titled: “Implementing Foreign Policy Goals with A Human Rights Lens: Advancing Equality through Multilateralism”.

Today, at the 48th session of the Working Group of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, Slovenia presented the state of human rights in Slovenia within the framework of the 4th round of the Universal Periodic Review. The Slovenian delegation, which included representatives of several ministries and government offices, was led by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon.

The 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which began on 9 September 2024, concluded today in Geneva. The UNHRC unanimously adopted a resolution on human rights education proposed by Slovenia in cooperation with a group of countries from different world regions.

The 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council unanimously adopted two resolutions on the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and on the rights of minorities, which Slovenia had proposed/filed jointly with two groups of countries.

The 55th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) opened in Geneva and will run until 5 April 2024. Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the high-level segment of the session with a video message, presenting Slovenia's views on the current situation of human rights around the world and the session’s priority themes.