A/HRC/43/15 issues had identified several good practices and positive developments in the protection of minorities in Slovenia. 63. The delegation highlighted several measures taken in the area of migration, including the establishment of the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants and the adoption of the National Strategy on Migration. The Government provided migrant children, regardless of their status, with access to the educational system at all levels, no later than three months after their arrival, under the same conditions as Slovenian citizens, and provided them with free Slovenian language courses. Migrant children received medical treatment and adult migrants received urgent medical treatment, with State funding. During the influx of migrants in 2015 and 2016, the Government dealt with migration in a humane manner by providing migrants with necessary shelter, food, and access to health care. 64. Slovenia had made significant progress in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, since its second universal periodic review. Parliament had adopted four laws, concerning the rights of persons with severe disabilities, personal assistance systems, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and their right to vote through effective access to polling stations and alternative voting methods. 65. Slovenia had focused its efforts to prevent human trafficking and had carried out several awareness-raising activities, targeted at the general public, and, particularly, at children, young persons, migrant workers and asylum seekers. Slovenia enforced the legal provisions criminalizing human trafficking with harsh punishments prescribed in the legislation addressing this crime, and put emphasis on international and regional cooperation in combating it. 66. The delegation explained that article 297 of the Criminal Code addressed hate speech without using the term “hate speech” but categorizing it under the criminal offence of public incitement to hatred, violence or intolerance. A recent decision of the Supreme Court had broadened the narrow interpretation of this offence. Discriminatory, racist or similar motives could be taken into account as an aggravating factor under the current criminal law. 67. The Government had adopted measures to improve the access of women to employment and close the gender pay gap. The delegation noted a certain decrease in the representation of women in the recent parliamentary elections, but emphasized that otherwise there was a high representation of women in the political life of the country and legislation was in place to ensure a high level of representation of women in decisionmaking positions. 68. Slovenia had established the institute of children’s advocates in the Office of the Ombudsman to ensure protection of the rights of children in judicial and administrative proceedings. The Government had been in the process of establishing a safe house for child victims of abuse and violence, based on the Scandinavian model. The Government had introduced child-friendly rooms in a number of courts across the country to provide a safe environment for children during judicial proceedings. 69. Despite prison overcrowding in one of the prisons in the past, Slovenia had been striving to comply with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). The 2017 report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment had identified some positive developments in that area. 70. Regarding the proposal to decriminalize defamation, the delegation explained that the Constitutional Court considered the criminal offence of defamation and insult in accordance with the Constitution and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. 71. The public service broadcaster guaranteed a special programme for minorities coming from former Yugoslav republics, emphasizing especially their languages and cultures. The Government also provided legal and financial support to preserve the cultures and languages of minorities. The Government had reached a bilateral agreement with 7