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Report to – 33rd IC Resolution 7: Disaster laws and policies that leave no one behind (33IC/19/R7) – Slovenia

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

    Yes

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

    At the International, Regional, National level

    Explanation:

    The content of the commitments relating to climate change is contained in the Resolution on the National Programme of Protection against Natural and Other Disasters for the Period 2016–2022 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 75/16), which stipulates that the National Programme of Protection against Natural and Other Disasters (hereinafter: the Programme) takes into account all hazards of natural and other disasters that pose a threat to people, animals, property, cultural heritage, and the environment. Furthermore, it takes into account the natural and other factors affecting the likelihood of disasters and the protection against them, as well as human and material resources that can be used to control hazards and protect people at risk. In addition to the national interests, the Programme also covers Slovenia’s commitments that derive from the adopted international and regional contracts, conventions and agreements, and bilateral agreements in the field of protection against natural and other disasters. The Programme follows the guidelines of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and is in line with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is aligned with Decision No. 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism, which is aimed towards strengthening the member states’ cooperation in providing security and protection for the population, property, and the environment, including cultural heritage, during natural and other disasters, and which promotes greater coherence and efficiency of international rescue operations. A new 4-year national programme of protection against natural and other disasters is being drafted. It will follow the already established principles, while at the same time taking into account the recommendations and commitments of Resolution No. 7. The Natural Disaster Recovery Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 114/05) determines the conditions for granting, and the manner of allocation, of state aid for the repair of damages caused by natural disasters for both bodies governed by public law and persons governed by private law. The purpose of the Act is to contribute to the establishment of normal living and working conditions in an area affected by a major natural disaster. A major natural disaster is defined as a natural disaster that causes direct material damage exceeding 0.3 per mille of the budget revenue of the Republic of Slovenia in the year of its occurrence. In this case, both natural persons and bodies governed by public law (municipalities and state authorities) are entitled to state aid for the reconstruction of objects – buildings. The Act also provides for dealing with socially disadvantaged persons of private law (families), so as to enable them to obtain funds for the reconstruction of a building intended for residential use, in line with an increased share of budget funds. The Act pays special attention to the protection of cultural and natural heritage by allocating all the necessary funds for the reconstruction of buildings enjoying the status of cultural monuments or sites, which are protected under regulations on the protection of natural heritage. Building resilience is one of the strategic priorities of development cooperation and humanitarian aid as contained in the Resolution on Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. Its activities are aimed at reducing vulnerability to, and the risk of, crisis, preventive action and building resilience. The thematic priority of these activities is ensuring food and water security, particularly to children. Slovenia is also a party to the Food Aid Convention, under which it makes an annual humanitarian contribution of at least EUR 30 000 through the WFP. In 2021, Slovenia earmarked EUR 260,000 for WFP. Water was a key priority of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian aid and, in this context, also the Council Conclusions on Water in the EU’s External Action were drafted. Among the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency were also food security and building resilience.

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

    Yes

    Partner with:
    Government and/or public authorities
    Humanitarian and development partners (e.g. UN, NGOs etc.)

    Examples of cooperation:

    In drawing up relevant legal acts in the area of its competence, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (hereinafter: the URSZR) takes into account the principles and provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia relating to the drafting of laws and implementing regulations, and follows the rules for the legislative procedure as determined in the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 92/07 – official consolidated text, 105/10, 80/13, 38/17, 46/20, 105/21 – Decision of the Constitutional Court and 111/21). Therefore, in the course of drawing up legal acts, the URSZR works together with competent national authorities in the framework of informal prior consultations, through inter-ministerial coordination and in the implementation of legal acts. The URSZR also pays a great deal of attention to informing the public concerned in advance and involving it in the drafting of regulations. Among other things, the URSZR cooperates with competent national authorities via the inter-ministerial coordination procedure in the elaboration of threat assessments for natural and other disaster events (hereinafter: assessments) and in the drafting of national protection and rescue plans in the event of natural or other disasters (hereinafter: plans). It also pays attention to informing the public concerned in advance of the proposed assessments, and in particular of the plans, while at the same time involving it in the process. Slovenia cooperates with implementing institutions and NGOs in the implementation of development-humanitarian projects involving these topics, and with international organisations (financial contributions for humanitarian aid through international organisations).

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

    Yes

    With challenges on:
    Funding constraints
    Lack of capacity and/or support (technical, financial, or other)

    Details about challenges:

    The commitments of Resolution No. 7 relate to different areas falling within the remit of different national authorities, which requires cooperation and interconnection in drawing up and negotiating strategic and operational documents. Given the limited amount of resources and the growing humanitarian needs and crises, it is sometimes a challenge how to choose which crises to support with development-humanitarian aid.

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

    Yes

    Type of Impact:
    Cooperation between Government/public authorities and National Society has been strengthened
    Other

    Details about the impact:

    The commitments of Resolution No. 7 constitute the guidelines that the URSZR takes into account when drawing up strategic documents and operational plans. Enhanced cooperation between ministries, public awareness-raising of development cooperation and humanitarian aid activities.

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

    Yes

    Description of the impact:

    The commitments of the Resolution that are transposed into strategic documents or operational plans are directly applicable. If transposed, these commitments are also binding. Projects and contributions in the framework of development cooperation and humanitarian aid contribute their share to an improved situation in developing countries, in which Slovenia provides development and humanitarian aid.

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