The Committee reviewed the second periodic report by Slovenia on 14 and 15 July 2005. The concluding observations were adopted on 25 July 2005. After noting that the report was submitted seven years after its due date, the Committee acknowledged the progress that Slovenia has made in compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and noted the improvements that still must be made. The Committee commended Slovenia for drafting a new democratic constitution and for making the Covenant "directly enforceable as part of the domestic legal order" and " enforced by the Supreme and the Constitutional Courts." In addition, Slovenia was praised for creating a number of positions and offices for the protection of human rights and the creation of equal opportunities, one of which is the Interdepartmental Working Group on the Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Committee welcomed the 2004 action plan created by the Working Group to combat trafficking.
Despite the progress that was made, the Committee noted with concern a number of gender-related issues, including the high rate of domestic violence in Slovenia, the low level of participation of women in public affairs, and the occurence trafficking in women and children. In the Concluding Observation, Slovenia is encouraged to enact and effectively implement laws that address the problem of domestic violence and is urged to raise public awareness about the issue. The Committee calls for an increase in the "effective participation of women in public affairs and in political and economic sectors." To combat trafficking, the Committee advised Slovenia to prosecute and punish the traffickers and increase available services for the protection and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking.
The Committee addressed a number of other issues that arise under the Covenant, including a backlog of cases in the judiciary and discrimination of Roma.
The next periodic report by Slovenia is due on 1 August 2010.
Cited in: "Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 40 of the Covenant: Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee - Slovenia," United Nations (CCPR/CO/84/SVN), 25 July 2005.