NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor receives Human Rights Ombudsman Dr Zdenka Čebašek-Travnik

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor today received the Human Rights Ombudsman Dr Zdenka Čebašek Travnik, who presented to the Prime Minister the 15th Regular Annual Report of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia. On this occasion, the Slovenian Prime Minister said that in times of economic crisis the Government had allocated almost 44 percent more funds for social assistance than in boom times.

 

(Photo: Stanko Gruden/SPA)

 

In this context he also emphasized that the Government should strengthen the pillars of competitiveness if it wanted to enhance the social security network. "If Slovenia as an open economy wants to keep up with competitiveness in the global space, the competitiveness pillars carrying social cohesion in society need to be strengthened in the 2010-2011 period." Otherwise, these pillars could collapse, stressed the Prime Minister. In comparison to the 2008 financial year, in 2009 and 2010 the Government increased funds for social assistance and plans to increase these funds also in 2011 by a total of almost 44%. This is "a high expenditure earmarked by the State to maintain social cohesion in Slovenia's society", said Prime Minister Pahor. The Human Rights Ombudsman thanked the Prime Minister for the reception and expressed her satisfaction that she would be able to present the Ombudsman's recommendations at the Government session. "I consider this to be an extremely important step forward and I am convinced that this step will also bring better opportunities to exercise human rights in Slovenia," added the Ombudsman.