Mine action

Anti-personnel mines pose a risk to civilians and hinder development long after the end of armed conflict. Slovenia advocates a mine-free world through consistent implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines.

Human rights are at the forefront of Slovenia’s foreign policy; consequently, its activities related to the implementation of the Convention focus on providing assistance to mine victims. As early as 1998, Slovenia established the ITF Enhancing Human Security, a humanitarian non-profit organisation with a mission to remove and destroy mines worldwide and to help mine victims. In addition to supporting projects implemented by the ITF, Slovenia is striving to increase the visibility of the ITF in the wider international community.

Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

Slovenia strives for the safe civilian use of nuclear technology through its activities within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), promoting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and gradual nuclear disarmament.

The process of gradual nuclear disarmament must be based on the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This process towards a world free of nuclear weapons sets out a number of steps, including the enforcement of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the adoption of international instruments on banning the production of fissile material crucial for the production of nuclear weapons and the verification or appropriate checks of nuclear disarmament.

Chemical Weapons

With regard to chemical weapons, the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC) is the most important instrument. It was signed in 1993 and entered into force in 1997. The Convention’s aim is to eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles end efficiently prevent the production of new chemical weapons. Slovenia has been a Party to the CWC since 1997.

The CWC was the foundation for establishing the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), its mission being the implementation of the provisions stipulated in the CWC. To this end, the OPCW established a special inspection mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the Convention. The Organisation has 193 members. Owing to its activities in Syria, the OPCW was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

Slovenia was a member of the OPCW Executive Council from 1999 to 2000. Between 2017 and 2018, Slovenia took the vice-chair of the Conference of the States Parties and coordinated its Eastern Europe Regional Group. From 2017 to 2019, Slovenia was a member of the OPCW Confidentiality Commission.

Slovenia’s speeches and statements in the OPCW

Control over trade in sensitive goods

Slovenia is striving to implement and strengthen international restrictions in trade in weapons and dual-use goods, such as the Arms Trade Treaty, in order to contribute to international peace, security, and the respect for human rights. Slovenia also participates in international export regimes, the most prominent being the Wassenaar Arrangement fostering transparency and increased responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.