The Erased: Slovenia's Dark Chapter of Identity Deletion

✒️Slovenia's independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 brought about the erasure of tens of thousands of Yugoslavs living in the country.

⚖️The erasure had severe consequences for the 'erased', including loss of citizenship, access to state services, jobs, pensions, and education.

🔀The Slovenian government's erasure policy targeted those who failed to meet the citizenship application deadline, but the process was plagued by injustice and lack of support.

🔒The issue of the 'erased' remained unresolved for decades, with court rulings and international pressure eventually leading to compensation measures and recognition of human rights violations.

🌍The story of the 'erased' in Slovenia highlights the complex challenges faced by individuals in secession and state dissolution processes.

What was the erasure policy in Slovenia?

—The erasure policy in Slovenia involved deleting the records of tens of thousands of Yugoslavs living in the country who failed to apply for Slovenian citizenship within a given deadline. This led to the loss of their citizenship, access to state services, and basic rights.

What were the consequences for the 'erased' individuals?

—The consequences for the 'erased' individuals were devastating. They faced the loss of citizenship, access to state services, jobs, pensions, education, and even basic identification documents. Many were left stateless and experienced extreme hardship and poverty.

How did the Slovenian government address the erasure issue?

—Initially, the Slovenian government neglected to address the issue, leading to legal battles and international pressure. It wasn't until court rulings and penalties that the government established a compensation scheme for the 'erased' and made efforts to prevent future human rights violations.

Was justice fully achieved for the 'erased' in Slovenia?

—While progress has been made, justice has not been fully achieved for the 'erased' in Slovenia. Many individuals still face obstacles in obtaining compensation and resolving their legal status. The issue remains a complex and ongoing human rights struggle.

What does the story of the 'erased' in Slovenia teach us?

—The story of the 'erased' in Slovenia highlights the often-overlooked challenges individuals face during secession and state dissolution processes. It emphasizes the importance of upholding human rights, ensuring justice, and addressing the rights of minority populations in transition.

00:00The video explores the erasure of tens of thousands of Yugoslavs living in Slovenia after its independence declaration from Yugoslavia.

05:55The erasure policy led to severe consequences, including loss of citizenship, access to state services, jobs, pensions, and education.

07:08The Slovenian government's handling of the issue and lack of support caused prolonged suffering for the 'erased' individuals.

10:26Court rulings and international pressure eventually led to compensation measures and recognition of human rights violations.

11:27The story of the 'erased' in Slovenia highlights the complex challenges faced by individuals in secession and state dissolution processes.