Report to – 33rd IC Resolution 2: Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies (33IC/19/R2) – Slovenia

Has your State/National Society/Institution incorporated the commitments contained in this resolution into the relevant strategic or operational plans?

The commitments are incorporated into:
Strategy
Policy
Legislation (e.g. Law, Regulation, Statutes, Rules of Procedure etc.)

At the International, National level

Explanation:

The Slovenian legal order has no basic legal act at national or local level to comprehensively regulate the field of psychosocial assistance after disasters. The psychosocial assistance in the event of disasters is partially regulated by sector-specific legislation. The basic act governing the protection against natural and other disasters is the Protection against Natural and Other Disasters Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia Nos. 51/06 – official consolidated text, 97/10 and 21/18 – hereinafter: ZVNDN). Article 71 provides that the protection, rescue and assistance in the event of natural and other disasters includes assistance to endangered and affected populations, and Article 72 stipulates that the tasks of protection, rescue and assistance are carried out by units, services and other operational structures of associations and other non-governmental organisations, companies, institutes and other organisations, Civil Protection units and services, police and the Slovenian Army in accordance with the law. The second paragraph of Article 37 stipulates that the municipal competence includes the regulation of the system of protection, rescue and assistance in the municipality in accordance with this Act, along with the provision of psychosocial assistance. The first paragraph of Article 98 stipulates that the Mayor manages protection, rescue and assistance and the elimination of the consequences of natural and other disasters. The Mayor also adopts protection and rescue plans that include disaster psychosocial response plans. Article 10 of the Decree on the Organisation, Equipment and Training of Protection, Rescue and Relief Forces (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia Nos. 92/07, 54/09, 23/11 and 27/16) provides that support services are organised in particular by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (hereinafter: URSZR), provinces and municipalities, and that they include units or teams for care, communications, psychological assistance, transport, information and communication support, administrative support and other needs of Civil Protection staffs. The size of services or the number of units or teams is determined by the founder according to the threat and the types of possible accidents, the number and type of forces for protection, rescue and assistance, and the available options. The fifth paragraph of the same article also states that the task of the support services is to provide psychological assistance. Article 13 of the Decree provides that the URSZR shall organise an information centre that may operate in the event of disasters in different parts of the country. If necessary, the information centres can also be organised by provinces and municipalities. One of the tasks of the information centres is providing psychological and spiritual assistance to victims and their relatives. Detailed planning and training arrangements are regulated in accordance with the provisions of the Decree on the Content and Preparation of Protection and Rescue Plans (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia Nos. 24/12 and 78/16). The Resolution on the National Programme for Protection against Natural and Other Disasters from 2016 to 2022 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 75/16; hereinafter: Resolution on the National Programme), section 2, states that a model of stress prevention and a system of psychological assistance have been introduced in the field of protection, rescue and relief. A system of psychological crisis intervention with regard to protection against natural and other disasters has been established for members of the protection, rescue and relief forces. The planning of psychosocial assistance in the event of disasters is undertaken on the basis of the ZVNDN and the Decree on the Content and Preparation of Protection and Rescue Plans. The psychological assistance in the event of disasters is channelled most comprehensively by the Guidelines for the Planning, Training and Provision of Psychosocial Assistance in the Event of Disasters, of which the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note in Decision No. 843-25/2015-25 of 24 October 2018. The Guidelines for the Planning, Training and Provision of Psychosocial Assistance in the Event of Disasters contain several sections dealing with their general purpose, the planning of psychosocial assistance in the event of disasters, alert & warning system and action, the main tasks of psychosocial assistance providers during disasters, the provision of psychosocial assistance in individual post-disaster phases, the definition of vulnerable groups and support to psychosocial assistance providers. The final part of the Guidelines is dedicated to training for psychosocial assistance providers in the event of disasters. The Guidelines focus on the organisational aspects of providing psychosocial assistance during major disasters, i. e. the provision of psychosocial assistance in individual post-disaster phases (first week, first month, one to three months following the event, after three months), the identification of, and assistance to, vulnerable groups (children, older people, people with disabilities, single-parent families, immigrants, rescue workers and others) and assistance to rescue workers and other psychosocial assistance providers, including NGO volunteers. The Guidelines for Psychological Assistance to Rescue Workers in the System of Protection against Natural and Other Disasters (No. 604-7/2011-13 – DGZR of 16 April 2012) comprehensively define the psychological assistance to rescue workers in the system of protection against natural and other disasters. They specify the purposes and methods of providing psychosocial support for rescue workers, the practitioners and the financing. The new Rules on Psychological Assistance and Support in the System of Protection against Natural and Other Disasters are being drafted by the URSZR. The Rules will include the provision of psychological assistance and support, contact with the psychologist and counselor, the responsibilities of leaders, etc. The participation of the Slovenian Armed Forces (hereinafter: SAF) in the provision of psychosocial assistance in the event of disasters is defined in the Defence Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 103/04 – UPB1) and in more detail in the Directive for the Cooperation of the SAF in the protection, rescue and relief in the event of natural and other disasters – the VIHRA Directive and the Plan of Action of the SAF in the protection, rescue and relief in the event of natural and other disasters – VIHRA 13 Plan. Psychosocial assistance following road accidents is defined in European legislation. Article 9(5) of Directive (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on railway safety provides for safety management systems and psychosocial support for accident victims and their families. Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council provides that, following an accident, a railway undertaking shall provide assistance to victims and assist them with procedures for the submission of complaints in accordance with the EU law. The provisions of European directives have been transposed into Slovenian law by the Railway Safety Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 30/18). In the event of air accidents, Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation provides for psychosocial support for victims. The liability of air carriers in the event of accidents is defined by Regulation EC 889/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 May 2002 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2027/97. Rehabilitation and recovery from crises are part of the International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (MRSHP) strategy. Assistance to refugee women and girls in particular is also part of the funded project activities in Uganda that are financed within the scope of the MRSHP in the 2020–2022 period. In addition, assistance to women and girls in conflict-affected environments is also a part of two projects in Lebanon; post-conflict assistance is also at the core of the projects for the recovery of a Syrian girl, and for Ukrainian and Belarusian children.

Has your State/National Society/Institution been working with other partners to implement the commitments contained in this resolution?

Partner with:
Government and/or public authorities

Examples of cooperation:

In the preparation of measures within its area of competence, the URSZR cooperated with other national authorities, both in the framework of preliminary consultations and through inter-ministerial coordination. It has also constantly informed, and cooperated with, the interested public, both when drafting the measures (preventively) and in their implementation (preparation of further clarifications). The URSZR shaped the Guidelines for the Planning, Training and Provision of Psychosocial Assistance in the Event of Disasters in cooperation with: • Ministry of Defence, Slovenian Armed Forces, • Ministry of Health, • Ministry of the Interior, • Ministry of Infrastructure, • Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, • Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and • Ministry of Justice. As to the topic of psychological assistance during the epidemic, the National Plan for Protection and Rescue in the Outbreak of an Infectious Disease or Pandemic in Humans, version 2.0, was drafted in cooperation with the National Institute of Public Health. Slovenia cooperates with implementing institutions and non-governmental organisations in the implementation of development-humanitarian projects involving these topics.

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing the commitments contained in this resolution?

With challenges on:
Human resources
Lack of specific knowledge/expertise

Details about challenges:

ZVNDN does not include counselors who provide psychological support. This area will be properly regulated by amending the Act and by drawing up the new Rules on Psychological Assistance and Support in the System of Protection against Natural and Other Disasters. A suitable local partner should be found, capable of properly implementing the project within the scope of the above topics.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the work and direction of your State/National Society/Institution?

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the communities that your State/National Society/Institution serves?

Description of the impact:

Psychosocial assistance to the population after disasters will have to be included in the national protection and rescue plans produced by the URSZR. Projects and contributions under MRSHP contribute their share to improving the situation in developing countries in which Slovenia provides development and humanitarian aid.