The UN CEDAW calls on the Slovak government to comply with its human rights obligations in the field of women´s rights
16 December 2015
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) together with the Center for Civil and Human Rights (Poradňa pre občianske a ľudské práva); Citizen, democracy and accountability (Občan, demokracia a zodpovednosť); Women´s circles (Ženské kruhy); TransFusion (TransFúzia) and the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) welcome the concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (UN CEDAW) issued recently after its November session on Slovakia. In the document, the UN CEDAW urges the Government of the Slovak Republic to take steps towards proper fulfilment of women's rights in Slovakia. The Committee pointed out several long-term problems and violations of women's human rights in their Concluding observations.
The Committee devoted considerable attention to the situation of Romani women. Among others it expressed concerns over persistent discrimination in access to employment and health-care and the barriers Roma women face when accessing justice. It further recognised long-term discrimination against Romani children in education and explicitly recommended the Slovak national authorities to ensure Romani girls have equal access to inclusive education. The UN CEDAW also expressed concerns about the inability of the justice system to provide appropriate, effective and gender-sensitive remedies in a timely manner to Romani women who were subjected to forced sterilization.
Press release of the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) together with Center for Civil and Human Rights (Poradňa pre občianske a ľudské práva); Citizen, democracy and accountability (Občan, demokracia a zodpovednosť); Women´s circles (Ženské kruhy); TransFusion (TransFúzia) and the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR).
