Addressing Racial Discrimination in Slovenia Through Inclusive Fables

• The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recently highlighted significant gaps in integration and inclusion initiatives within Slovenia.
• Discriminatory practices and hate speech impact various groups, including Roma, LGBTQ+ individuals, refugees, and religious minorities like Muslims and Jews.
• ProMosaik has published a bilingual booklet titled "Fables Against Racism" to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue starting from schools.

Discrimination and Monitoring in Slovenia

• The ECRI report identifies a lack of local integration efforts and critical issues regarding the treatment of minorities.
• Muslim populations face "racialised Islamophobia" in media representation, characterized by both underrepresentation and homogenization.
• Religious intolerance is evidenced by documented hate crimes:
  • May 2021: Desecration of Muslim graves with pork and red liquid.
  • November 2023: Vandalism of the Ljubljana Jewish Community Centre with Nazi symbols.
  • January 2025: Antisemitic graffiti on the Maribor Synagogue.

Education and Integration Gaps

• The inclusion of Roma children in the school system is a primary concern. Official data is lacking, but available research shows alarmingly low primary school completion rates: 21.3% nationally, dropping to 12.3% in the southeastern region.
• Educational experts emphasize that religious literacy is a prerequisite for governing diversity in a multicultural society.

Fables Against Racism

• The project features fables written by children to encourage tolerance and peaceful cooperation.
• The "Rabbit and the Mouse" story serves as an inclusive manifesto:
  • A rabbit invites a mouse to study in a shared school despite their physical and cultural differences.
  • The narrative promotes the idea of an "animal school for all," where students learn from each other's distinct worlds.
  • The core message emphasizes that diversity is a core characteristic of a healthy educational environment.