Slovenia's discrimination watchdog urges courts to speed up long-pending cases

Slovenia's Advocate of Equal Treatment is calling for administrative courts to expedite discrimination cases, citing significant delays that leave victims in prolonged uncertainty.

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If the perpetrators appeal his decision, the victim of discrimination can remain without an answer for a long time.

Miha Lobnik, the Advocate of Equal Treatment, confirms that each year, an average of eight to sixteen individuals seek his assistance, believing they have faced discrimination based on their personal circumstances. However, if the alleged discriminator appeals his decision, the case can enter administrative litigation, where judgments can take years. Currently, 16 such cases are before the Administrative Court, with two having been pending for over seven years.

Lobnik emphasized the need for prioritizing these cases to ensure more effective protection against discrimination. He pointed to the case involving the Živim institute, which has been before the Administrative Court for seven years. This situation illustrates the critical issue of lengthy judicial processes hindering the timely resolution of discrimination claims.

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For more effective protection against discrimination, the advocate of equal treatment Miha Lobnik calls for priority treatment.

The advocate's call for prioritization is crucial for upholding the principle of equal treatment. The administrative court's decisions serve as a professional review of the advocate's findings, and delays in this process can have serious consequences for individuals seeking justice. The Ministry of Justice and members of the National Assembly are being urged to address this systemic issue.

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Discrimination in the case of the Živim institute has been before the administrative court for seven years.