Slovenia’s Human Rights Advocate Calls for Dignified Burials

Why this is here: Families of victims from the post-war killings often have not received any official notice regarding the death, burial location, or circumstances of their family members’ disappearance.

Slovenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Simone Drenik Bavdek, stated that dignified burial is a fundamental human right. She connected this right to the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, ratified in Slovenia in January 2022, while discussing the burials of victims of post-war killings.

Drenik Bavdek emphasized that this right includes respectful handling of remains, honoring the deceased, and maintaining graves. She asserts Slovenia has an international legal obligation to provide dignified burials, aligning with the wishes of families. Slovenia is currently preparing its first report to the committee on enforced disappearances.

The ombudsman noted that post-war killings in 1945 remained largely unacknowledged for decades due to a political system that did not respect human rights. Many families still lack official information about the deaths, burial locations, or circumstances surrounding the disappearances of their members. Many victims also remain unidentified.

Several political parties recently proposed a law to re-establish a national day of remembrance for victims of communist violence and transfer remains to Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana, but the city’s mayor responded that the cemetery serves the city’s residents. Debate continues, with some parties accusing others of exploiting the issue for political gain.