STA, 26 November 2018 - As Slovenia observes Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the country's Social Chamber drew attention to violence against people with disabilities, which they say remains a taboo topic.
Kvas called for a comprehensive approach to violence, warning that violence against persons with disabilities is a social problem affecting everyone. She urged those who observe such form of violence to report it and to help the victims.
Data from the two schemes that allow the disabled in wheelchairs or using braces to withdraw from a violent environment shows that violence against the disabled is more widespread than against the rest of the population, that women are more at risk and that violence is present within the family and in institutions.
Related: Domestic violence remains common in Slovenia
Breda Božnik, a state secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said that violence against women was a universal phenomenon, a "tenacious and grave violation of human rights" and that disabled women were especially vulnerable.
Slovenia has a domestic violence prevention act, but the ministry is drawing up a resolution on the prevention of violence against women, which is to be passed next year.
Human Rights Ombudsman Vlasta Nussdorfer gets "a letter from a person drawing attention to violence every once in a while", but when her team tries to intervene many do not want help for fear that they would become even more isolated and would not benefit from trying to prove violence.
Nussdorfer said that this was not the right message to the perpetrators "so it's right that the media should draw attention to the unacceptability of violence against people with disabilities." She also called for raising awareness of the victims.
Related: Ljubljana by Wheelchair presents the most accessible places in the city
