Non-governmental institutions

On 20th June 2007, the Roma Community Act established the Roma Community Council of the Republic of Slovenia. The framework of Council's tasks is already determined by law and they are the following:

• dealing with the issues related to the interests, situation and rights of the Roma community;
• making proposals and incentives to the competent authorities;
• stimulating the activities to preserve the Roma language and culture;
• stimulating and organising the cultural, information, publishing and other activities important for the development of the Roma community;
• developing and preserving the connections with the Roma organisations in other countries that represent the interests of the Roma community in relation to the state authorities and are public bodies.

The Council consists of 21 members, i.e. 14 members of the Roma Union of Slovenia and 7 representatives of the Roma communities in city/municipal councils of those local self-governing communities which are determined by law, regulating the field of local self-governments.  

The Rules of Procedure of the Roma Community Council of the Republic of Slovenia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No 94/2007) defined the operation of the Council and its tasks in detail.

ZRomS-1 also determines that the Council may give the incentives and opinions on the matters under its competence to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, Government of the Republic of Slovenia, other state authorities, holders of public authorisations and bodies of local self-governing communities while these bodies have to obtain the preliminary opinion of the Council when adopting or issuing regulations and other general legal acts relating to the situation of the Roma community.

Until the establishment of the Roma Community Council of the Republic of Slovenia, the Roma Union of Slovenia was an umbrella organisation of the Roma community. After the establishment of the Council, the Union preserved a part of its functions (The Roma Representation Office to the state and other organisations) under the auspices of the Council and directed its activities in organising the Roma and establishing the Roma associations as well as in cultural and education activities. 
 

According to the provisions of the Statute of the Roma Union of Slovenia, the "Forum of Roma Councillors" was established on 21st November 2002 in Murska Sobota at the presidential meeting of the Roma Union of Slovenia in the presence of the majority of the elected Roma Councillors. The Forum of Roma Councillors is a working body of the Roma Union of Slovenia and represents a manner and form of cooperation of Roma Councillors.

Among other there is also the Institute for Ethnic Studies: Public research organization in the field of ethnic studies is dealing with Roma issues: http://www.inv.si/domov.aspx?lang=eng

References:

• Roma organizations and associations. Portal projekta Romska hiša/Romano Kher [online]. Available at: http://www.romsvet.si/sl-si/romi-v-sloveniji/romske-organizacije-in-drustva