COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Seventy-sixth session
15 February - 12 March 2010
QUESTIONS BY THE RAPPORTEUR
IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF
THE SIXTH TO EIGHTH PERIODIC REPORTS OF
SLOVAKIA ( CERD/C/SVK/6-8)
1.Please provide information on measures taken or envisaged to strengthen the capacity of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights to monitor implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2004. Does the Centre have the capacity to represent individuals in court proceedings? Please comment on reports that some members of the Centre are perceived as not being independent.
2.Please clarify whether the Anti-Discrimination Act as amended, or any other legislation, provides for special measures and on what grounds. Has the State party adopted any special measures in line with article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention with a view to securing disadvantaged groups, such as the Roma, the equal enjoyment of the rights protected by the Convention?
3.Please comment on reports according to which racially motivated attacks against members of ethnic minorities, often perpetrated by skinhead groups, have increased significantly in recent years. What measures is the State party adopting to address the root causes of such attacks?
4.Please indicate what steps the State party has taken to prevent and combat negative political discourse against minorities.
5. The State party report insists on fighting extremism, in terms of legislation, institutions and punishment, as well as on the category of crimes against humanity. Are these phenomena related to racial discrimination in the State party? Are they particular to Slovakia?
6.How does the State party plan to address the problem of police mistreatment of Romani suspects, having in mind recent reports of abuses of six Romani minors in custody in Kosice? Is there any independent body charged with investigating complaints alleging such racially motivated misconduct by law enforcement officials?
7.Please provide more detailed information on any steps taken to combat prejudices and mistrust among employers, to offer incentives and to increase vocational and other training opportunities with a view to reducing unemployment among Roma.
8.What efforts are made to avoid placing Roma children in special schools for the disabled or in segregated classes? Are the concepts of ”disadvantaged children” or ”children from socially disadvantaged environments” adequate? Or might they lead in fact to separate schools and classes for Roma pupils?
9.Please comment on reports that many Roma do not have access to basic services due to their lack of residence permits, and on the reason why such permits are not issued to them.
10.How does the State party intend to act against discrimination related to the access of Roma to social housing, to prevent forced evictions and to avoid segregation in this field?
11.What measures is the State party taking to train health personnel working with Roma communities in order to improve access to health services by the Roma population, as well as to avoid segregation in hospital facilities?
12.Please comment on the reasons for the low number of complaints on racial discrimination received by the Ombudsman and the lack of any finding of a racially motivated violation of a human right, while judicial bodies are seized with such cases.
13.Please provide information on categories of people targeted by campaigns of information and education aimed at eliminating negative social attitudes against, and stereotyping of, members of minority groups, in particular the Roma.
14.Please provide information on remedies provided to victims of racial discrimination in cases considered during the reporting period.
15.Please provide information on representation of persons belonging to minorities in the Parliament, Government and other State bodies.
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