6th International Sexuality and Social Work Conference

Resilience and resistance:
Reproductive justice and sexuality in social work

1-4 JULY 2025 – University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Venue

Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana:

Topniška ulica 31
1000
Ljubljana
Slovenia

Dates

• 1st July 2025 – Pre-conference (social programme)
• 2nd July 2025 – Scientific programme
• 3rd July 2025 – Scientific programme
• 4th July 2025 – Optional social conference activities

 

Call for abstracts

• Call for abstracts opens Monday 23rd September 2024
• Notification of acceptance March 2025
• Registration opens February 2025
• Early bird February to April 2025

 

Themes

We invite papers on the themes of (but not limited to):

• Every day lived gender and sexuality across the lifespan
• Justice and rights (reproductive, gender, sexuality)
• Systems and state responses to reproductive justice
• Activism, struggles for equality and resistance
• Gender, sexuality and reproductive rights in social & health care: historical perspectives
• Intersectional perspectives: racism, ageism, ableism, class issues, neurodiversity etc.
• Education and training in social work, health and allied professions
• Health and wellbeing
• LGBTQ+ histories and epistemologies
• Marriage equality, parenthood and families of choice
• Relationships and partnerships beyond a mono-normative society
• Other

 

Organising Committee

• Prof Mojca Urek, Professor of Social Work
• Anže Jurček, Teaching Assistant
• Dr Ana Marija Sobočan, Assistant Professor
• Dr Melissa Bird, Social Worker
• Alfonso Pezzella, Director of Programmes

 

6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Hosted by

Registration

Registration will open in February 2025.

 

Fees

Call for abstracts

Submit an abstract now

Submission Guidelines

All abstracts must be submitted only via the online form, which can be accessed after a submitter has created a new user account with an e-mail address and password.

Authors will be notified about the receipt of their abstract by e-mail immediately. If you have not received a confirmation within 24 hours, please check your spam folder, and after this contact [email protected]

Authors will have access to their abstracts until the deadline, and will have the possibility to edit abstracts with draft status, or submit new ones.

All correspondence concerning the abstract will be sent to the submitting author’s e-mail address.

To begin the submission process, you must first create a contact which is done on the Contact Information tab. After creating a contact, additional tabs will appear that will enable you to upload and submit your presentation.

 

Important Dates

Abstract submission deadline: January 31, 2025

Notification of acceptance: March 31, 2025

Early bird registration fee: April 30, 2025

 

Themes

We invite papers on the themes of (but not limited to):

• Every day lived gender and sexuality across the lifespan
• Justice and rights (reproductive, gender, sexuality)
• Systems and state responses to reproductive justice
• Activism, struggles for equality and resistance
• Gender, sexuality and reproductive rights in social & health care: historical perspectives
• Intersectional perspectives: racism, ageism, ableism, class issues, neurodiversity etc.
• Education and training in social work, health and allied professions
• Health and wellbeing
• LGBTQ+ histories and epistemologies
• Marriage equality, parenthood and families of choice
• Relationships and partnerships beyond a mono-normative society
• Other

 

When submitting your abstract please keep the following criteria in mind:

• Title of the abstract (please keep it short and concise). Titles must be in title case: this means only using capital letters for the principal words. e.g The Title Must Have a Capital Letter at the Start of Every Principle Word). Please do not include titles in the abstract document.
• Indicate your presentation type (oral, poster, workshop/symposia)
• Please choose the theme (listed below) that best aligns with your work. If your theme is not mentioned, please specify it in the abstract and add a keyword.
• Include the name, affiliation, and job title of Presenting Author (this person will act as the main contact for this abstract; this person must be listed as the first author)
• Include the name, affiliation, and job title of co-author(s). Please do not add authors and affiliations to the abstract document in order to facilitate in the blind review.
• Abstract word limit is 300 (no references needed) excluding Title, Authors and Affiliations. Graphs or tables are NOT to be included in the abstract.
• You can submit up to 2 Abstracts per presenter.
• The presenting author must be registered, with registration fee paid before the Early registration deadline, April 30 2025.

 

Information under the following sub-headings is required for all Abstract submissions, with the exception of theoretical/discussion papers:

• Aim & Objectives
• Methods
• Findings/Outcomes
• Discussion/Conclusion
• Implication(s) for Practice

 

 

Abstracts will be published in the Conference Programme exactly as submitted and no corrections will be made. Please pay particular attention to grammar, spelling and typography.

Guidance for oral presentations

Please use these guidelines to prepare for your presentation.  If you need any additional support, please let us know.

If you have any co-presenters who are not listed, please let us know so we can include them in any updates.

We would be grateful if you would take a moment to let your networks and colleagues know that you are presenting! We’d love to see you tweet or post to your social media accounts about what you are presenting and how you are feeling about the conference.

Be sure to include the hashtag #SWSexuality25 and tag @SWSexuality.

If you are presenting in one of our parallel sessions, please make sure you bring your presentation on a USB/External drive and upload your presentation onto the computer in the room in advance of your session.

Please check the conference programme for the time and location of your session.  This will be the room where you upload your presentation.

Rooms will be open before the start of the conference each day and during breaks and lunch time.

Please note computers are automatically wiped at the end of each day so you must upload your presentation on the day you are presenting.  We would encourage you to do this between 8am and 9am if possible.

There will be folders on the desktop clearly labelled for each session for convenience.  We will have student ambassadors in each room to help with any issues that you might have.

In each room there will be:

A laptop, a projector and screen, VGA and HDMI connections, microphones

Please note:

Your presentation must last no longer than 15 minutes.

There are likely to be 4-5 other presenters in your session and the Chair of the session will ensure that there is time for questions and discussion after all presenters have spoken.

Please ensure that your presentation is prepared in advance and that your PowerPoint slides are clear and accessible.

We recommend:

• Using clear fonts such as Arial;
• Reducing the use of colourful backgrounds such as red and where possible use black text;
• Incorporating different presentation styles into your presentation such as diagrams, pictures and verbal explanations; and
• Using accessible language where possible.

All sessions will be busy, and Chairs will have to keep people strictly to time.

It is important therefore that your presentation is well structured and organised and that you are confident that you can cover all your material within 15 minutes.

During the session:

• Describe pertinent visuals
• Explain acronyms
• Give the audience time to digest the information

After the session

• If appropriate share contact details so that delegates can get in touch if they have questions/ further discussion

Please note that our intention is to create a safe space for discussion and debate and that we always encourage respectful debate and dialogue.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of this event and we aim to be open, transparent, inclusive, democratic and free from discrimination to meet the needs of everyone.
We aim to do this by:

• Communicating our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion clearly and actively promoting this;
• Challenging discrimination based on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation;
• Ensuring legislation and policy requirements are incorporated into our working practices.

Poster presentations

• If you have a poster to present, please make sure you bring this with you to the conference venue;
• On the day there will be poster boards and you will be given information on how to display your poster.
• There are dedicated times on the programme for posters exhibition and during this time we ask you to stand next to your poster so that you can answer any questions.

Guidance for Conference delegates on Poster Presentations

A poster presentation affords certain strong advantages in communicating the main messages of your contribution for example, the outcomes of your research, policy or practice initiative for example:

• Posters can be viewed for a substantial period during the day it is displayed
• Any data, graphics and messages on posters can be made available
• The poster allows you to more personally interact with the people who are interested in your contribution
• A poster attracts an audience that is really interested in your work

The poster presentations will be organised in sessions, at least a half-day, usually a full day and where possible can be organised within a theme.

Your poster will be displayed in the common foyer area where conference delegates will be taking refreshments and food or taking a break in between sessions.

In advance of the conference, you will be told:

• What day you should display your poster – this will be in the conference programme
• Where to display your poster – you will be allocated a specific numbered ‘poster board’ and you should leave sufficient time at the beginning and end of the day to mount your poster and take it down.
• Poster viewing time will be allocated in the programme to encourage delegates to take time to view the posters. Authors should make sure that they are in attendance by their poster during allocated poster viewing.

Preparing a poster

The standard format of a poster usually follows that of an oral scientific presentation and can include.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Recommendations

Please re-read the abstract that was accepted and make sure that you follow the same information provided there.  (Do not include your abstract on your poster as this will be in the conference programme).

A poster, like an oral presentation, cannot (and should not) contain all information you have on the topic. Posters typically should stimulate interest rather than provide a detailed presentation. If all text is kept to a minimum (800-1000 words maximum), a person should fully read your poster in less than 10 minutes. Since there will be many other posters, you must make sure your poster is interesting and visually appealing if you hope to attract viewers.

Size of your poster

This should be in Portrait mode

A1 Size 23.4 inches (59.4 cm) wide x 33.1 inches (84.1 cm) high.

General guidelines:

–The relevance of the poster to the topic should be very apparent to viewers.

– Think of the raw layout of your poster beforehand. For example, place the title at the top. Start with the Introduction at the upper left, finish with the recommendations at the lower right, with methods and results filling the central space.

– Use short sentences, simple words, and bullets to illustrate your points.

– Text should be broken up by including graphics or photos.

– Self-explanatory graphics should dominate the poster. The success of a poster directly relates to the clarity of your illustrations and tables!

– Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or unusual abbreviations.

– Use a non-serif font (Arial) for the poster.

– The poster (text and graphics) should be easily readable from about 2 metres distance. As a rule of thumb Arial >24 points).  The titles should be in large fonts (e.g. Arial >80 points)

If possible institute logos or affiliations should be minimised in size and put in the lower corner of the poster, or, alternatively, next to the title.

• Introduction: Get your viewer interested in the issue or question while using the absolute minimum of background information and definitions. Put the objectives of your contribution at the end of your introduction.
• Methods: Be short, but precise. For example, what study design you used and your study population.
• Results: Briefly provide descriptive results. Any tables and graphs should stand on their own.

– A minimal amount of text materials should supplement the graphic materials.

– Use areas of empty space between poster elements to differentiate and accentuate the elements of your poster.

– Use colours for emphasis, but do not overuse (2-3 colours are usually enough).

– Graphics and tables should have a complete title and legend.

• Conclusion and recommendations: Comment on the main results and discuss why they are conclusive and interesting. Discuss limitations. What are your recommendations?
• Acknowledgements/further information: Thank individuals for specific contributions to the project; mention who has provided funding. Provide your e-mail address for further information.

Making the poster

• Preparing a poster takes time. Plan for a minimum of one week.
• Usually, presentation software such as PowerPoint is used. Format your PowerPoint slide to the size you’ll like to have it printed (ex 90×130 cm) by using the menu data -> format page. You can insert your text and graphics directly on that slide or copy-paste it from a Word document or a PowerPoint slide.
• Print the poster in an A4 format to check for layout, colours, font size and spelling errors before printing it in large size.
• After the poster is printed in large format, changes are no longer possible.
• It is often useful to make a handout of your poster for distribution during the poster session

Finally, include your contact details on the poster and handout so that people can contact you after the conference is over.

Transport your poster in a tube to make sure it keeps well during travel.

The Scientific Committee will judge posters and award a prize for the best two posters – so Good Luck

 

TRAVEL INFO

 

Reaching Ljubljana by airplane:

 

1     Flying to Ljubljana Airport:

 

The easiest way to reach Ljubljana is to fly directly to Ljubljana Airport. Once at the airport, you can reach Ljubljana by bus, shuttle or taxi.

Information for bus departure times can be found HERE (https://www.ap-ljubljana.si/en/timetable?departure=11917&destination=10783).

This bus will take you to the Main Railway and Bus Station in Ljubljana near the city centre. The station is a 10-minute walk from the city centre, where also most of the hotels are located.

Maybe the best option to take is a shuttle that can drop you off at your hotel for the price of around 15€.  Shuttle information: https://www.lju-airport.si/en/transport/shuttle-services/.

 

2     Flying to Trieste/Zagreb/Marco Polo Venice/Treviso Airport (reaching Ljubljana by bus):

 

If you will be flying to Airports near Slovenia, you can reach Ljubljana by booking a ride

1. with a shared or private GoOpti transport:

https://www.goopti.com/en/

The shared transport can cost 50-100€ for a return ticket, depending on the location of travel.

2. by Flixbus:

https://www.flixbus.co.uk/

The ticket costs around 20-50€ for a return ticket depending on the location of travel.

These transports need to be booked in advance.

Both GoOpti Transport and Flixbus will leave you at the Main Railway and Bus Station in Ljubljana and so will many other buses or trains that you might take to Ljubljana. GoOpti does have an option to drop you off at a specific location (e.g. hotel) as well.

 

Accommodation in Ljubljana:

 

We recommend you stay in the city centre, as you can reach the faculty on foot (not too far), and also the taxi is not too expensive (especially if you share it).

Some options in the city center (but there are many more on the internet, please just check online.

• City Hotel Ljubljana https://www.cityhotel.si/en/
• B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park https://hotel-park-ljubljana.h-rzn.com/
• Central Hotel Superior (Ibis) http://www.centralhotelljubljana.com/
• Urban Boutique Hotel Center https://www.urbanhotel.si/
• Hotel Mrak https://hotelmrak.si/en/
• Heritage Hotel https://hotelheritage.si/en
• Art Hotel https://www.visitljubljana.com/en/poi/art-hotel/
• Austria Trend Hotel https://www.austria-trend.at/en/hotels/hotel-ljubljana (outside city center, but close to the location of the conference)

 

More expensive options:

• Hotel Slon: https://www.hotelslon.com/
• Grand Hotel Union https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/grand-hotel-union-eurostars.html
• Hotel Cubo https://cubogroup.si/en
• Hotel Lev https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/exe-lev.html
• InterContinental https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/ljubljana/ljuha/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-IC-_-SI-_-LJUHA
• Grand Plaza Hotel & Congress Center https://www.grandplazahotel.si/

 

But there are many private and smaller establishments offering accommodation

 

Ljubljana in-city public transport:

 

 

Ljubljana has a wide connection of buses. The buses can be used by using the Urbana Mobile App, Urbana Card or simply by paying with a payment card (Visa and Mastercard). More information can be found HERE (https://www.lpp.si/en/payment-methods).

Buses that bring you near the faculty: 20, 7, 6, 11.

Bus schedules are also available at the bus stations but in Slovenian. Some stations to be mindful of:

Kolodvor – Main Railway Station

Pošta (Kozolec in the other direction), Ajdovščina – The City Centre

Bavarski dvor – near the city centre, a lot of busses stop there

Topniška; Prekmurska; Gasilske brigade; Stadion – all stops that are a few minutes’ walk from the Faculty of Social Work.

You can find the bus scheme of daily rides at: https://www.lpp.si/sites/www.jhl.si/files/dokumenti/shema_dnevnih_linij_marec_2024_1.pdf

 

Bicycle and walking in Ljubljana

 

Ljubljana is perfect to discover on foot or by bicycle. The city has a fantastic cycle hire scheme, called BicikeLJ. A weekly subscription costs 1€ and the rent is free if the ride is under 1h (which it is if you use the bike to get from point A to point B and park it in the terminal. Read more at https://www.bicikelj.si/en/home.

 

Taxi in Ljubljana

Be wary of taxi scams, as taxis waiting for you at the Main Railway Stations may have unreasonably high fares.

The easiest way to book a taxi in Ljubljana is to book with one of the taxi providers through an app:

https://www.taximetro.si/en/get-our-app/ or by mobile phone:

TAXI METRO: +386 41 240 200

TAXI DRUŠTVO:  +386 41 970-000

 

Useful tourist information:

 

https://www.slovenia.info/en

https://www.visitljubljana.com/en/visitors/

 

Friendly LGBTQI+ spaces

 

Pritličje – bar (address: Mestni trg 2)

• https://www.pritlicje.si/
• https://www.facebook.com/pritlicje/?locale=sl_SI
• https://www.instagram.com/pritlicje/?hl=en

Klub Tiffany – club (address: Masarykova cesta 24)

• https://www.facebook.com/klubtiffany/
• https://www.instagram.com/klubtiffany/?hl=en

Klub Monokel – club (address: Masarykova cesta 24)

• https://www.instagram.com/klubmonokel/?hl=en

ŠKUC – Cultural Student Center (address: Stari trg 21)

• https://skuc.org/o-nas

 

Read more:

• https://www.ljubljana.si/en/ljubljana-for-you/lgbt-friendly/
• https://www.kulturnicenterq.org/

What to visit:

 

Ljubljana alternative guided tours

 

Upon registration you will have the option (for additional fee) to join a Ljubljana LGBT tour and/or Ljubljana feminist tour, which are two of the most popular alternative tours provided to tourists and interested groups in Ljubljana. Keep your eyes peeled when registering.

Ljubljana LGBT Tour: Prepare to put on non-binary glasses, because you will see the sights of Ljubljana in rainbows. This alternative tour of Ljubljana, presented to you by long-time LGBT activists and artists Suzana Tratnik and Brane Mozetič, is a journey through pre-socialist and socialist struggles for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and queers. It shows places where it all began, visits the current LGBTQ+-friendly clubs and cafés and introduces the stories behind the politics of the LGBTQ+ movement. Take a walk on the wild side with the Ljubljana LGBT Tour!

Ljubljana Feminist Tour: The tour will take you through the old city centre and the narrow centre of Ljubljana, where an experienced female guide will present buildings, markets, streets, and monuments from a woman’s perspective while presenting women at the time of Catholic schools, socialism, and capitalism with a curious and critical analysis.

 

 

Emona: Exploring Ljubljana’s history

Ljubljana, the vibrant capital of Slovenia, boasts a rich history dating back to the Roman era when it was known as Emona. Founded around 50 AD, Emona flourished as an important urban center in the region. Today, visitors can immerse themselves in the city’s ancient past through various attractions and historic remains that showcase the legacy of Emona.

Archaeological findings: Oldest Bone Whistle and Wooden Wheel

The Divje Babe flute, an ancient musical instrument carved from a cave bear bone, represents a remarkable discovery in the field of archaeology. Dating back over 40,000 years, this flute challenges previous perceptions of Neanderthal culture and showcases their advanced cognitive abilities. With its four finger holes and evidence of deliberate crafting, the flute provides intriguing insights into the musicality and symbolic expression of our prehistoric ancestors. Housed in the National Museum of Slovenia in Ljubljana, the Divje Babe flute stands as a testament to human creativity and cultural evolution, captivating visitors with its ancient origins and enigmatic beauty. The Ljubljana Marshes Wheel, discovered in the Ljubljana Marshes near Slovenia’s capital, is a remarkable archaeological find dating back to around 3,500 BCE, making it one of the oldest wooden wheels ever unearthed. While not directly associated with the ancient Roman settlement of Emona, its discovery highlights the long history of human habitation in the region. Found in a pile-dwelling archaeological site, the wheel offers insights into early technological advancements and provides a glimpse into the lives of prehistoric peoples who inhabited the area. Displayed in a museum in Ljubljana, the wheel serves as a tangible link to Slovenia’s ancient past, captivating visitors with its age-old significance and cultural heritage.

 

Historic Remains of Emona

While much of Emona lies beneath the modern city of Ljubljana, several archaeological sites offer glimpses into its former glory. The Emona Archaeological Park, located in the heart of the city, features reconstructed Roman walls, remnants of residential buildings, and a section of the original city street, complete with preserved Roman pavement. These remnants provide valuable insights into the layout and architecture of ancient Emona.

Roman Infrastructure

Emona was a small Roman city surrounded by walls, which grew approximately 2000 years ago in the area where present-day Ljubljana stands. Bordered by the Ljubljanica River and Castle Hill to the east, Kongresni Trg to the north, and remnants of the Roman wall known as Mirje to the south, its extent measured about 400 x 500 meters. At its peak, it housed between 3,000 to 5,000 residents, smaller compared to other Roman cities like Celeia with 15,000 inhabitants and Poetovio with 30,000. Roads led out of the city, lined with burial grounds, and one of the few statues depicting an ordinary Roman, the Emonan, is housed in the National Museum of Slovenia, with a copy standing in Zvezda Park.

The Archeological Park of Emona

The Archaeological Park of Emona consists of two major archaeological sites: the Emona House Archaeological Park and the Early Christian Center Archaeological Park, as well as other Roman remnants of the former city of Emona, which are freely accessible. We highly recommend visiting both parks, as they feature well-preserved Roman remains nestled within the city yet somewhat hidden from public view, making them relatively unknown but truly valuable additions to the city.

At the first site, the Emona House, located near Mirje, visitors can explore the foundations of a Roman villa with preserved mosaic floors and underfloor heating (hypocaust system). At the second site, visitors will encounter the remains of baths and a center from the early Christian period with a magnificent octagonal baptismal font.

The Roman Wall

As indicated by the inscription found at the eastern gates of Emona, located in today’s French Revolution Square, the city walls were constructed between 14 and 15 AD. The walls, measuring 2.40 meters wide and standing between six and eight meters tall, surrounded the city’s core in a regular rectangle. It boasted at least 26 towers and four main gates, evenly spaced along the perimeter and flanking the side city gates. Except for the eastern side, which was protected by the natural slope towards the Ljubljanica River, the city was further enclosed by a double moat.

The wall’s outer shells were built using dressed stone blocks bonded with mortar, while the interior was filled with conglomerate rubble, sand, and lime. The structural integrity of the wall was so robust that parts of it endured for up to 2000 years. The inner structure of the wall is visible at Mirje, where a section of the wall west of the main southern gates is preserved. Some of the side gates were bricked up as a precaution against barbarian invasions during antiquity, with one such gate still intact in the western section of the wall at Mirje.

The city fortifications at Mirje were restored in the 1930s according to the plans of architect Jože Plečnik. Features such as the stone pyramid, additions, entrances, and the arched space lined with remnants of nearby ancient houses are his work, as is the inner park. Additionally, the colonnade by the main southern gates is not of ancient origin. In the 1990s, the walls underwent restoration.

 

Ljubljana Castle

 

https://www.ljubljanskigrad.si/en/

 

 

The works of Jože Plečnik

The works Jože Plečnik carried in Ljubljana between World War I and World War II present an example of a human centred urban design that successively changed the identity of the city following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when it changed from a provincial city into the symbolic capital of the Slovenian people. The architect Jože Plečnik contributed to this transformation with his personal, profoundly human vision for the city, based on an architectural dialogue with the older city while serving the needs of emerging modern 20th century society. The property consists of a series of public spaces (squares, parks, streets, promenades, bridges) and public institutions (national library, churches, markets, funerary complex) that were sensitively integrated into the pre-existing urban, natural and cultural context and contributed to the city’s new identity. This highly contextual and human-scale urbanistic approach, as well as Plečnik’s distinctive architectural idiom, stand apart from the other predominant modernist principles of his time. It is an exceptional case of creating public spaces, buildings and green areas according to the vision of a single architect within a limited time, the limited space of an existing city, and with relatively limited resources.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1643/

National and University Library – NUK

The new main building on Turjaška Street was constructed between 1936 and 1941. Previously, a palace stood on the site until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1895. Initially, city engineers dealt with plans for the library, but Plečnik, at the request of city dignitaries, began conceptualizing the project in 1927. By 1930 and 1931, he had prepared a design for the building – an irregular rectangle with four four-story wings. The outer façade is constructed of brick complemented by unevenly cut and differently treated stone blocks and protruding windows. Through a grand entrance portal with wooden and bronze-clad doors, access is granted to a monumental stone staircase leading to the first floor, where the giant reading room is located. At the top of the main staircase stands a statue of Primož Trubar, with a large statue of Moses at the side entrance, a work by sculptor Lojze Dolinar. On the terrace adjacent to the library on Vegova Street, notable figures are depicted: Ivan Prijatelj, France Kidrič, Fran Ramovš, and Rajko Nahtigal. On the corner stands a monument to the poet Simon Gregorčič. Plečnik aimed to create a sacred space, a temple of knowledge and progress.

 

Triple Bridge

The project boasts an exceptionally interesting concept: breaking up the movement of various traffic participants with three bridges. The basic idea was initially to demolish the central bridge, which had stood in place for centuries, but Plečnik found it well-preserved enough to leave untouched. The central stone bridge of the Triple Bridge, dating back to 1842 (formerly the Hospital Bridge), occupies the site of the former medieval wooden bridge. Between 1929 and 1932, Jože Plečnik added two pedestrian bridges and stairs with access to the riverbank, planting poplar trees.

Križanke

Until 1949, when the socialist authorities nationalized them, the Teuton (and previous to them, Templar) monastery belonged to the German priestly knightly order of the Teutons. After nationalization, Jože Plečnik and his team of architects were invited to renovate the site in 1952, emphasizing its Renaissance and Baroque elements. The primary aim was to open a school for arts and crafts in the building, but they also arranged it as a festival and event venue, opening it in the mid-1950s. Plečnik was assisted by architects Anton Bitenc and Viktor Molka, who later independently maintained the space.

 

Covered Market

Plečnik didn’t build the market itself but beautifully shaped the Ljubljanica riverbank from the Triple Bridge to just before the Dragon Bridge. He had been contemplating the idea of arranging the space from Kresija to the Dragon Bridge since his return from Prague. In 1940, city architect Matko Curk began building the new market according to Plečnik’s designs. Construction lasted from 1940 to 1944. The market, with picturesque arcades, was supposed to feature the Butchers’ Bridge in the middle, which was only built according to the basic plans in 2010. Beneath the arcades, various interesting shops have reigned for some time.

 

Žale Cemetery

The central Ljubljana cemetery was relocated in 1906 from Navje, northwards next to the Church of St. Cross, where the authorities acquired 117,000 square meters of land. Many Slovenian architects, most notably Jože Plečnik, contributed to Žale’s arrangement. Plečnik erected the monumental entrance gate and chapel, surrounded by mortuary chapels named after different saints and patrons. The work was mostly completed by 1940, but Plečnik’s legacy was neglected afterward. Žale underwent meticulous renovation in modern times.

 

Shoemakers’ Bridge (Cobblers’ bridge)

Among Plečnik’s most significant works in Ljubljana is the Shoemakers’ Bridge, also known as the Cobbler’s Bridge. Throughout history, several bridges with various names (including Butchers’) have stood where Plečnik’s bridge now stands. Between 1931 and 1932, Plečnik replaced the old cast-iron bridge (Hradeckega) with a new one on two supports, featuring pillars with spheres. The stone bridge has two distinctive, slightly lower pillars in the middle, bearing special lamps.

 

Butchers’ bridge (Ljubljanica Locks)

It wasn’t until 1944 that one of Plečnik’s most intriguing projects was completed. The large water lock on the Ljubljanica stands at the end of the regulated course of the river, serving to regulate its water level in the former center of Ljubljana. Jože Plečnik envisioned the lock as a symbolic three-pillared monumental conclusion to the city center. It is said that, in addition to the lock, the architect wanted to build a water dock and even a pocket power plant. The project was carried out by builder Matko Curk.

 

Church of St. Michael in the Ljubljana Marshes

Just a stone’s throw from Ljubljana stands the settlement of Črna vas, at the beginning of which stands one of the most beautiful Slovenian shrines, the modest Church of St. Michael with its distinctive open belfry. The church was built between 1937 and 1939 at the initiative of Trnovo parish priest Fran Saleški Finžgar and catechist Karel Matkovič, who was Plečnik’s nephew. Initially intended as a temporary church, its base is made of stone, while the rest is crafted in wood. Due to marshy ground, the church stands on pilings, with access to the church nave via a bridge-like entrance. The outer walls are adorned with brick inserts.

Mutual Insurance Company Palace

In 1928, the Catholic Mutual Insurance Company commissioned the construction of one of the largest buildings in Ljubljana where the Triglav Insurance Company now has its headquarters. Opposite the bus station stands a building that is somewhat similar to the NUK but smaller.

Traveling outside of Ljubljana

If you will be visiting any other destinations in Ljubljana Slovenia, you can reach them by train or bus, or shuttles organized by trip providers (often including entrance tickets etc.). You can find travel information on these websites:

Bus:

https://www.ap-ljubljana.si/en

https://arriva.si/en/

https://potniski.sz.si/en

 

Beautiful day-trip destinations outside of Ljubljana:

Lake Bled

You can reach Lake Bled  with a bus from the main railway station. The bus ride takes approximately 1 hour and costs about 6€. You can check the timetable at https://arriva.si/en/

By choosing stations “Ljubljana AP” and “Bled”.

Lake Bohinj

Another beautiful destination is Lake Bohinj. You can visit this destination by bus. The bus ride takes approximately 1h 30min to 2h and costs 8€. You can check the timetable at https://arriva.si/en/

By choosing stations “Ljubljana AP” and “Bohinjsko jezero/lake”.

 

Arboretum Volčji potok

You can visit the beautiful arboretum Volčji potok, where you can walk among beautiful gardens, have a picnic and enjoy the sun. You can reach the arboretum by bus from Ljubljana Railway Station, followed by a 20-minute walk.

You can check the timetable at https://arriva.si/en/

By choosing stations “Ljubljana AP” and “Nožice”.

 

Slovenian coast: Koper, Piran, Portorož and Izola

You can visit the Slovenian coast by taking the bus from Ljubljana Railway station, which will take approximately one hour depending on the chosen destination. The Slovenian coast has a lot to offer-from beautiful natural beaches (Fiesa, Simonov zaliv, or San Simon Beach), to historic town centres in Koper and Piran, and beautiful tourist destinations such as Portorož.

You can check the timetable at https://arriva.si/en/

By choosing stations “Ljubljana AP” and “Koper”, “Portorož”, “Izola”, and “Piran”.

 

The Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

You can visit the Postojna Caves by taking the bus from the Main Railway station in Ljubljana to Postojna. Then at the bus stop a special bus can take you to the caves, or you can take about a 20-minute walk from the Postojna station. There you can visit the beautiful caves, observe the stalagmites and stalactites, and the Postojna cave specialty – the Proteus fish, which only resides in those caves. Visit the Predjama Castle and treat yourself to a tour of the wine cellars and a wine tasting of pristine Slovenian wines.

You can check the timetable at https://arriva.si/en/

By choosing stations “Ljubljana AP” and “Postojna”.

You can check the timetable for the Postojna Cave Bus and other information here:

https://www.postojnska-jama.eu/en/information/how-to-reach-us/

https://www.postojnska-jama.eu/en/predjama-castle/

Be sure to book your tickets and check opening times as this tourist destination can get busy in the summer.

 

Another possibility is to visit The Škocjan caves https://www.park-skocjanske-jame.si/en/.

 

 

Organising committee

 

Dr Mojca Urek

Dr Mojca Urek is an associate professor at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Work. She is currently Dean of the Faculty. She has conducted research on narrative approaches in social work, mental health, and LGBTI+ and gender-based violence. She has been the national lead of five European projects, two of which focused on LGBTI+ inclusive social care (overcoming cis- and heteronormative practices in the care of LGBTI+ older people through training, and combating violence against gender non-conforming children). She is co-editor and co-author of Child Friendly Perspectives on Gender and Sexual Diversity: beyond Adultcentrism (Routledge, 2023).

 

 

 

Dr Ana M. Sobočan

Dr. Ana M. Sobočan is an assistant professor and researcher at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana. She has been working in the field of social work ethics and ethics in research both in Slovenia and internationally. She is also interested in professional identity and social work practice, and has researched and taught in the areas of inclusion, disability, gender, parenting, LGBTQI+ (in 2008 she conducted the first research with same-sex parents in Slovenia), inclusion and disability. She is also very involved in international work, frequently guest lecturing at foreign universities, serving on various boards of international organisations, as an editor for two foreign scientific journals, and as a researcher in the international Social Work Ethics Research Group. In Slovenia, she is active in the Association of Social Workers, the Social Work Section of the Slovenian Sociological Society and the Slovenian Sexological Society.

 

 

Anže Jurček

Anže Jurček holds a master’s degree in social work and is a teaching assistant and researcher at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. His research interests include social work in healthcare organizations, professional identity of social workers, interprofessional collaboration and LGBTIQ+ studies. His previous work includes publications of systematic reviews on topics related to LGBTI+ older adults including the concept of resilience and the effects of trainings on social and healthcare professionals working providing care to LGBTI+ older adults. Previously he collaborated on two European LGBTI+ projects: Diversity and Childhood: Changing social attitudes towards gender diversity in children across Europe and Best practices for Care and Wellbeing Education to support the needs of LGBT people as they age – BEING ME.

 

 

Alfonso Pezzella

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Melissa Bird