Universal human rights instruments

Slovenia is committed to universal human rights instruments. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, together with its two Optional Protocols, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are collectively known as the International Bill of Human Rights.

Slovenia is party to the majority of UN human rights conventions, and as all states parties has an obligation to periodically report to treaty bodies on the implementation of particular conventions.

Core Document forms part of all periodic reports of States Parties. Treaty bodies use it as a reference document outlining the general human rights situation in a particular country.  Slovenia last updated its core document in 2020.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948. It sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The Declaration is not legally binding, but serves as a basis for all international legally binding human rights instruments.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) was adopted in New York on 16 December 1966 and entered into force on 23 March 1976. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 1 July 1992.

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted in New York on 16 December 1966 and entered into force on 23 March 1976. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 18 May 1993. The Optional Protocol enables the UN Human Rights Committee to receive and consider communications from individuals claiming to be victims of violations of any of the rights set forth in the Covenant who have exhausted all available domestic remedies.

Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty

Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted in New York on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 17 December 1993. By signing the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant, states parties assume an obligation to abolish the death penalty.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) was adopted in New York on 16 December 1966 and entered into force on 3 January 1976. Slovenia succeeded to the Covenant on 1 July 1992 under the Act on Succession, on the basis of which it took effect in Slovenia on the day of its independence, 25 June 1991.

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 2008, on International Human Rights Day, and entered into force on 5 May 2013. Slovenia was among the first UN Member States to sign the Optional Protocol on 24 September 2009, but has not yet ratified it.

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York on 7 March 1966 and entered into force on 4 January 1969. Slovenia succeeded to the Convention on 1 July 1992 under the Act on Succession, on the basis of which it took effect in Slovenia on the day of its independence, 25 June 1991.

Declaration pursuant to Article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

In 2001, Slovenia made a declaration pursuant to Article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (in Slovene) recognising the competence of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to receive and consider communications from individuals or groups of individuals within its jurisdiction claiming to be victims of a violation of any of the rights set forth in the Convention by the Republic of Slovenia. The Committee is authorised to consider those communications from the Republic of Slovenia for which it ascertains that the same matter is not being addressed in any other international procedure. The declaration entered into force on 1 September 2001.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted in New York on 18 December 1979 and entered into force on 3 September 1981. Slovenia succeeded to the Convention on 1 July 1992 under the Act on Succession, on the basis of which it took effect in Slovenia on the day of its independence, 25 June 1991.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women was adopted on 6 October 1999, and has been in force since 22 December 2000. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 15 May 2004.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted in New York on 20 November 1989 and entered into force on 2 September 1990. Slovenia succeeded to the Convention on 1 July 1992 under the Act on Succession. It is one of the most widely ratified international human rights instruments.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children armed conflict was adopted on 25 May 2000 and entered into force on 12 February 2002. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 17 August 2004.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was adopted on 25 May 2000 and entered into force on 18 January 2002. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 17 August 2004.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure was adopted on 28 February 2012 and entered into force on 14 April 2014. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 25 August 2018.

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) was adopted in New York on 10 December 1984 and entered into force on 26 June 1987. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 14 April 1993.

Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was adopted on 18 December 2002 and entered into force on 22 June 2006. In Slovenia, it has been in force since 1 January 2007.

Declaration pursuant to Article 22 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

In 1993, Slovenia made a declaration pursuant to Article 22 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment recognising the competence of the UN Committee against Torture to receive and consider communications from individuals within its jurisdiction claiming to be victims of a violation of any of the provisions contained in the Convention. The Committee is authorised to consider only the complaints for which it ascertains that the same matter is not being addressed in any other international procedure or that not all domestic legal remedies have been exhausted.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted in New York on 13 December 2006 and entered into force on 3 May 2008.  Slovenia ratified the Convention on 24 April 2008.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted on 13 December 2006 and entered into force on 3 May 2008. Slovenia ratified the Optional Protocol on 24 April 2008. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities establishes an individual complaints mechanism for disabled citizens of states parties who allege that their rights under the Convention have been denied.

Regional instruments

The Republic of Slovenia is party to a number of regional human rights instruments.

European Union

• Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

Council of Europe

• Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (with Protocols)
• European Social Charter
• European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
• Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)
• Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)