Slovenia/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates  

4.2.8 Social cohesion and cultural policies

Slovenia signed the Jim-Joint Inclusion Memorandum of the European Commission programme on social inclusion in 2002. In 2004, the National Action Plan on Social Inclusion (2004-2006) was adopted. In 2006, Slovenia joined the other members of the EU in drafting the "National Report for Strategies on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2006-2008" and in 2007, the "Amended National Report for Strategies on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2006-2008" was adopted. Its goal is to check the implementation of the measures contained in the strategy and to outline other important developments that have taken place since the adoption of the Strategy or that have taken place in 2007 and will continue to take place. It falls primarily under the competence of the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. The first annual report on the implementation of the Plan was delivered in 2005 and shows that activities described in chapter 4.2.4 and chapter 4.2.7 are considered as a vehicle for social inclusion. They are looked at from another aspect and selectively. From this point of view, the most important role in this field is played by approximately 4 000 cultural societies and associations. Activities include: educational programmes for the elderly and youth, special meetings and festivals of performing groups, choruses, folklore dancing, creative writing, fine arts for the elderly, contemporary dance, chorus singing, theatre and puppets, and film and video for the young people. These programmes are carried out on the local level, where they are supported by local communities and also on the national level, with joint financing from the Ministry of Culture.

The Association of Families at the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth organised a week of Families in Mai 2007 with free admission to galleries, museums and theatres.

The Ministry of Culture introduced a special budget item line in 2005 dedicated to blind and deaf people. In 2007 around 30 000 euros was allocated to publishing in Braille scripture, 30 000 euros for media activities and almost 50 000 euros for technical equipment. The umbrella association of deaf people received around 66 000 euros towards media and the development of special technical infrastructure.  

The Third Age University of Slovenia is a voluntary educational movement, aimed at those over the age of 50, mostly retired people, but also for older workers who are unemployed. It has been established to provide access to culture and education for the elderly and to contribute to their changing social and economic position. The Third Age University encompasses, at present, 35 universities all over the country. Each Slovenian university organises study circles, lectures, and some of them also have summer universities, educational camps, study trips, etc.

The Third Age University has both educational and social goals. It has recently introduced two new fields of research and activity pertaining to all adults, regardless of their age, namely dyslexia in adults and burn-out as a result of non-reciprocal relationships at work or in private life. Objectives are:

• to stimulate the development of the education of the elderly for social roles, personal growth, second careers and active citizenship;
• to educate the elderly;
• to educate mentors and other professionals;
• to investigate education of the elderly and to raise public awareness in the field;
• to offer counselling on the local, national and international level;
• to conduct public campaigns aiming at changing the position of the elderly in society; and
• to design new educational programmes for the elderly and other adults.

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