3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE OMBUDSMAN’S WORK To clarify all the circumstances regarding the complaints considered, we generally acquire an opinion from the other party, since, as aforementioned, the Ombudsman must conduct procedures impartially and acquire the positions of all the affected parties in each case. Therefore, we make enquiries at the authority to which the complaint refers. The matters considered are very diverse, so the methods of conducting enquiries are also very diverse. We usually submit to the competent authority a short summary of the alleged irregularity or a description of the problem, and request detailed information. Sometimes, e.g. when it is claimed that a procedure is taking too long, we express our opinion by assuming that the complainant’s statements are completely true. We also determine a deadline for a reply, which depends on the urgency and complexity of the matter; this deadline may not be longer than 30 days or shorter than 8 days, in accordance with the ZVarCP. If an authority does not send the Ombudsman explanations or information by the requested deadline, the authority is warned and informed in accordance with paragraph two of Article 33 of the ZVarCP that they must immediately explain to the Ombudsman why the request was not met. The Ombudsman may notify the relevant superior authority directly about the missed deadline. A refusal or disrespect for an Ombudsman’s request is considered obstruction to the Ombudsman’s work. In such cases, the Ombudsman may send a special report to the competent working body of the National Assembly or the National Assembly, or notify the public. When an authority avoids responding to questions, we request a review of the entire file relevant to the complaint. As stated before, the Ombudsman has the right to review data and documents which are in the competence of all state authorities. If wider issues need to be clarified, the head or representative of the authority is invited for an interview. When persons in detention or prisoners complain about inappropriate administrative procedures or inappropriate living conditions, we have a discussion with the management and visit the detainee or prisoner. We act in the same way when the Ombudsman is contacted by persons in other institutions with limited freedom of movement. When we have collected all the required information, we decide on further procedures. Sometimes, the authority’s reply resolves the complainant’s problem, e.g. data on when a procedure which the complainant believes has been unreasonably delayed will continue and end. In such cases, the procedure is concluded and the complainant is invited to contact us again if the authority fails to fulfil its guarantees with regard to the procedure in question. When a complaint is founded, we continue to work on disputable issues until they are resolved. The table below includes meetings, discussions, sessions and other forms of cooperation with state authorities in 2015. Date Description of event 1. 13 January 2015 The Ombudsman, Deputy mag. Kornelija Marzel, and Martina Ocepek, Director of the Expert Service, and the Ombudsman’s advisers held a meeting with Irena Majcen, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, and her colleagues at the Ombudsman’s head office. 2. 14 January 2015 The Ombudsman met Mayor Gregor Macedoni during her meeting outside the head office in the Municipality of Novo mesto. 3. 20 January 2015 The Ombudsman and Deputy Tone Dolčič attended the 7th emergency session of the Committee on Education, Science, Sport and Youth, at which savings in education were discussed, which particularly affects children with special needs. 4. 21 January 2015 At the Ombudsman’s head office, the Ombudsman, her deputies and the Director of the Expert Service met the Senate of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption. 5. 21 January 2015 The Ombudsman and Deputy Tone Dolčič attended a joint session of the Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Disability and the Committee on Education, Science, Sport and Youth, at which the impact of the recession on the situation of children was discussed. 6. 21 January 2015 Deputy Ombudsman Jernej Rovšek attended the 5th session of the Committee on the Interior, Public Administration and Local Self-Government, which discussed the situation of the Roma community in Slovenia. 7. 22 January 2015 The Ombudsman and Deputy Jernej Rovšek attended the 4th session of the Commission for Petitions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities, at which the Second National Report of the Republic of Slovenia for the Universal Periodic Review was discussed. 3 INFORMATION ABOUT THE OMBUDSMAN’S WORK and humanitarian organisations and numerous volunteers participating in the humanitarian crisis and unselfishly providing their help deserved recognition for their exceptionally selfless work. 8. 22 January 2015 The Ombudsman attended the 5th regular session of the Commission for Public Office and Elections, at which a proposal on appointing Deputy Ombudsman was discussed. 9. 27 January 2015 The Ombudsman and her colleagues met Mojca Prelesnik, Information Commissioner, and her colleagues at the Ombudsman’s head office. We are aware that it is most important for a complainant to obtain a solution to his/her problem. This is the starting point for our decision making regarding the application of the most appropriate measure from among those we are authorised to take. When a procedure is unduly long, we act to accelerate the matter if the rational or legally determined deadline for taking a decision has been exceeded and if this does not violate the order in which matters are considered. 10. 4 February 2015 The Ombudsman met Mayor mag. Ivan Princes during her meeting outside the head office in the Municipality of Vipava. We may propose a solution to the problem in an amicable manner to any given authority if this is also agreed by the complainant. If irregularities cannot be eliminated, we propose to the authority that it apologise to the complainant. Initiatives for amendments to regulations are usually proposed in recommendations in annual reports, which are passed by the National Assembly after consideration. 12. 5 February 2015 The Ombudsman and Deputy Jernej Rovšek attended the 5th session of the Commission for Petitions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities, at which threats made to journalists due to their work were discussed. The Ombudsman’s findings when considering complaints or wider issues important for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms are presented during discussions with representatives of state and local community authorities. We present findings, expectations and the Ombudsman’s recommendations to eliminate established violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Ombudsman Vlasta Nussdorfer, the competent deputy and the Ombudsman’s advisers who discuss matters from the relevant field of work are usually present at such meetings. 176 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 11. 4 February 2015 Deputy Ombudsman Tone Dolčič attended the 9th emergency session of the Committee on Education, Science, Sport and Youth; the topics included the introduction of civic and patriotic education and ethics as subjects in secondary schools. 13. 7 February 2015 The Ombudsman attended the ceremony on the occasion of Slovenian Culture Day in Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana. 14. 13 February 2015 The Ombudsman and Deputy Jernej Rovšek attended the continuation of the 6th emergency session of the Commission for Petitions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities, at which supervision of the work of the security and intelligence services was discussed. 15. 19 February 2015 At the Ombudsman’s head office, the Ombudsman and her colleagues met Boris Koprivnikar, Minister of Public Administration, and his colleagues. 16. 2 March 2015 The Ombudsman, Deputies mag. Kornelija Marzel and Jernej Rovšek, and Martina Ocepek, Director of the Expert Service, held a meeting at the Ombudsman’s head office with Nina Gregori, Director-General of the Internal Administrative Affairs, Migration and Naturalisation Directorate at the Ministry of the Interior, on the issue of the erased. 17. 4 March 2015 The Ombudsman met Mayor Dr. Andrej Fištravec during her meeting outside the head office in the Municipality of Maribor. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 177