ERRC Written Comments Concerning Slovakia to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

03 August 2004

In the submission, the ERRC noted that the Slovak government has not fully complied with a number of its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Roma in Slovakia are regularly subjected to discrimination in almost all aspects of their life, from interaction with law-enforcement authorities and the judiciary to the exercise of economic, social and cultural rights. In addition, violence against Roma persists in Slovakia, and justice is difficult for Roma to secure in practice, if not fully unattainable. The ERRC submission to the CERD presents the results of ERRC research in several areas of relevance to the Convention. Following a general introduction, the following issues are discussed:

• Anti-Romani Expression in Slovakia
• Anti-Discrimination Law and Policy
• Violence
• Coercive Sterilisation of Romani Women
• Medical Care, Social Security and Social Services
• Education
• Housing
• Issues Related to the Provision of/Possession of Residence Permits
• Discrimination in Access to Public Accommodation
• Ethnic Statistical Data
• Human Rights Defenders

The submission concludes with some rudimentary recommendations for the Slovak government, intended to assist the Committee in bringing concluding observations with respect to Slovakia's compliance with the ICERD. The full text of the ERRC's written comments about Slovakia to the CERD is available

• in English:
• in Slovak: