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AccessibleEU
  • News article
  • 25 October 2024
  • AccessibleEU Slovenia
  • 1 min read

New Regulation Ensures Greater Accessibility to Audiovisual Media in Slovenia

The Slovenian government has adopted a comprehensive new regulation that mandates that broadcasters and services include accessibility features, and includes provisions for improving user interface accessibility.

Man at a lectern. To his side, a big screen shows a presentation.
Dr. Matjaž Debevc presents his presentation on Audiovideo media Directive in Slovenia and Europe
Aleš Oblak

The Slovenian government has adopted a comprehensive new regulation that significantly improves accessibility to audiovisual media for persons with disabilities. This legislation mandates that broadcasters, streaming services, and other digital platforms include essential accessibility features, such as subtitles for the hearing impaired, sign language interpretation, and audio descriptions for the blind or visually impaired. The regulation also includes provisions for improving user interface accessibility to ensure seamless navigation for all users.

This policy aligns with both national and EU-level initiatives, like European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) and Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) (Directive (EU) 2010/13), which was updated by Directive (EU) 2018/1808, focused on fostering inclusion and equal access to media. The regulation aims to remove barriers that previously limited access to media content, ensuring that persons with disabilities can engage with cultural, social, and educational content on equal terms.

At a recent conference on the topic, held in Ljubljana on 5 October 2024, Slovenia’s national expert for AccessibleEU, Dr. Matjaž Debevc, delivered a lecture in which he highlighted Slovenia’s progress in comparison to other European countries. His presentation underscored the country's commitment to meeting international accessibility standards and its continued efforts to ensure persons with disabilities have equal access to audiovisual media.

The Slovenian Ministry of Culture emphasised that these measures are a vital part of Slovenia's ongoing commitment to creating a more inclusive society and meeting the obligations outlined in international agreements, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The regulation will be phased in over the next two years, with strict compliance monitoring to ensure all media providers adhere to these new standards.

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Publication date
25 October 2024
Author
AccessibleEU Slovenia
Country
  • Slovenia