In 2015, the Ombudsman continued its active cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which constitute a unique voice of citizens. These organisations are the fastest to respond to changing social circumstances and people’s needs. They detect individual and systemic forms of human rights violations and strive to eliminate them. The Ombudsman had meetings with NGOs in order to exchange information in a direct dialogue on achievements and more particularly problems with enforcing human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Ombudsman’s cooperation with NGOs in the field of the environment and spatial planning is particularly active. In 2015, eight meetings were organised; six at the Ombudsman’s head office and two elsewhere, i.e. one in Ankaran and one in Vrhnika. A detailed review of the meetings is provided in the table below. Date The Ombudsman addressed participants at a ceremony celebrating International Women’s Day organised by the Association of War Invalids Ljubljana. 14. 11 March 2015 The Ombudsman gave a lecture to volunteers of the Beli Obroč Society. 15. 18 March 2015 The Ombudsman attended the 17th regular annual meeting of Europa Donna, Slovenian Breast Cancer Association. 16. 19 March 2015 Information Commissioner Mojca Prelesnik and her adviser Alenka Žaucer were the guests at the 41st meeting with representatives of civil society in the field of the environment and spatial planning at the Ombudsman’s head office. 17. 23 March 2015 Ombudsman’s advisers Brigita Urh and Dr. Ingrid Russi Zagožen attended a round table of the Down Syndrome Slovenia Society, which was held in the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia. 18. 23 March 2015 Ombudsman’s advisers Brigita Urh and Dr. Ingrid Russi Zagožen attended a round table entitled ‘Open problems of the situation of people with mental disorders’ prepared by the Down Syndrome Slovenia Society, which was held in the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia. 19. 20 April 2015 The Ombudsman accepted the invitation of Rotary Club Idrija and the Association of Friends of Youth Idrija to a joint meeting where they discussed the issue of violating children’s and family rights in present times. 20. 24 April 2015 As an honorary sponsor, the Ombudsman addressed participants at a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of Maribor Sožitje Association. 21. 30 April 2015 The Ombudsman and her colleagues attended the third regular meeting with representatives of civil society in the field of the environment and spatial planning which was in Mežica. 22. 9 May 2015 The Ombudsman welcomed the participants of the charity event ‘Walk a kilometre in my shoes’ in Podčetrtek and participated actively at the event, organised by Debra Slovenia, which joins patients with Epidermolysis bullosa. Overview of meetings with non-governmental organisations and civil society Date 1. 9 January 2015 Description of event The Ombudsman’s adviser Brigita Urh attended the presentation of the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN at a mansion in Brdo pri Lukovici and the signing of the document on cooperation on the project. 3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE OMBUDSMAN’S WORK 2. 21 January 2015 The Ombudsman attended a discussion on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Ombudsman’s institution and the 66th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organised by Forum 21 at the City Hall in Ljubljana. Description of event 13. 10 March 2015 3. 27 January 2015 The Ombudsman presented the work of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia to members of Lions Club Domžale in Domžale Library and spoke about human rights in Slovenia. 4. 29 January 2015 The Ombudsman organised the first regular meeting with representatives of civil society in the field of the environment and spatial planning; the guest at the event was Dr. Jože Šrekl from the Chair of Occupational, Process and Fire Safety of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the University of Ljubljana. 23. 19 May 2015 5. 3 February 2015 The Ombudsman, Deputy Tone Dolčič and the Ombudsman’s advisers met representatives of NGOs who are members of the Centre for Advocacy and Information on the Rights of Children and Youth (Centre ZIPOM) as part of their regular sessions at the Ombudsman’s head office. General Secretary mag. Bojana Kvas and one of the Volunteers of the Year, Matevž Pavčnik, who is employed at the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia, attended a ceremony of Slovene Philanthropy on the occasion of Slovenian Volunteer Day in Škofja Loka. 24. 28 May 2015 The Ombudsman hosted the fourth meeting with representatives of civil society in the field of the environment and spatial planning; the guest was Dr. Dušan Plut. 6. 6 February 2015 The Ombudsman, Deputy Tone Dolčič and Ombudsman’s adviser Dr. Ingrid Russi Zagožen met representatives of members of the initiative of Sožitje Škofja Loka Society. 25. 2 June 2015 As an honorary sponsor, the Ombudsman addressed participants at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Projekt Človek Association in Škofja Loka. 26. 10 June 2015 7. 10 February 2015 The Ombudsman and the former President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk, were guests at a discussion organised by the SheXO Club – Women in Business at Grand Hotel Union. At the Ombudsman’s head office, the Ombudsman met NGOs that provide help to victims of criminal offences. 27. 13 June 2015 8. 11 February 2015 The Ombudsman, Deputy Jernej Rovšek and General Secretary mag. Bojana Kvas met representatives of Transparency International Slovenia at the Ombudsman’s head office. The Ombudsman attended the official announcement of the results of competitions organised by the Association for Technical Culture of Slovenia (ZOTKS) in Cankarjev dom and a meeting of young researchers of ZOTKS talents. 28. 16 June 2015 9. 17 February 2015 The Ombudsman and her Deputy Tone Dolčič met Renata Brunskole, Secretary General of the Slovenian Red Cross, at the Ombudsman’s head office. At the Ombudsman’s head office, the Ombudsman and her colleagues received representatives of civil society working in the field of homelessness at a working meeting. 29. 16 June 2015 10. 2 March 2015 At the Ombudsman’s head office, the Ombudsman, Deputies mag. Kornelija Marzel and Jernej Rovšek, and the Ombudsman’s advisers met Dr. Neža Kogovšek Šalamon from the Peace Institute on the issue of the erased. The Ombudsman and Ombudsman’s adviser Simona Mlinar spoke with complainants from the OZA Association (Asbestos Patients Association) at the Ombudsman’s head office. 30. 18 June 2015 In Grand Hotel Union, the Ombudsman attended the official announcement of the Heralds of Hope, a campaign in which cancer patients and their relatives commend health-care workers who particularly stand out due to their valour, understanding and warmth. 31. 22 June 2015 At the Ombudsman’s head office, the Ombudsman and her Deputy Tone Dolčič met Maja Plaz from the Association SOS Help-line for Women and Children – Victims of Violence. 11. 5 March 2015 The Ombudsman, Deputies Ivan Šelih and Tone Dolčič and other colleagues received representatives of the rights of people with mental illness for their first meeting at the Ombudsman’s head office. 12. 5 March 2015 Neva Železnik, journalist and Vice-President of Spominčica, Alzheimer Slovenia – the Slovenian association for help with dementia, gave a lecture on dementia to expert colleagues of the Ombudsman. 182 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 183 3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE OMBUDSMAN’S WORK 3.2.5 Communication with non-governmental organisations and civil society