The General preamble of the Slovene Constitution refers to culture in 2 Articles:
- Article 11 stipulates that “the official language in Slovenia is Slovene, whereas in the areas populated by the Hungarian and Italian national community, it is Hungarian and Italian”; and
- Article 5 stipulates that the state “…safeguards and assures the rights of the autochthonous Italian and Hungarian communities…..is concerned with Slovene national minorities in neighbouring states…is concerned with Slovene emigrants and fosters their contacts with their homeland… is concerned with the preservation of natural assets and cultural heritage and creates possibilities for the harmonious societal and cultural development of Slovenia”.
The Chapter on human rights and fundamental freedoms reaches into the field of culture in the following Articles:
- Article 59 guarantees the freedom of artistic expression;
- Article 64 states that both constitutionally recognised autochthonous minorities, Hungarian and Italian, are guaranteed special rights;
- Article 65 stipulates that status and special rights should be given to the Roma community according to the Constitution and regulated by law. While there are no special laws in place, there are some laws which contain special rights for the Roma people (e.g. the right to be represented in the municipal councils in the areas where they reside); and
- Article 39 guarantees freedom of expression and free access to information of a public character.
In the Chapter of the Constitution dealing with economic and social relations, Article 73 is intended to safeguard natural and cultural heritage. While the state and local communities are obliged to look after the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, the duty of protecting the most important part of the heritage – natural sights, rarities and cultural monuments – is a duty which everyone must observe by law.
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