Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Ninety-fourth session

20 November-8 December 2017

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted

by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes in relation to the combined eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Slovakia

Note by the Country Rapporteur

1.The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy-sixth session (see A/65/18, para. 85) that the Country Rapporteur would send to the State party concerned a short list of themes with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s report. The present document contains a list of such themes. It is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

Reliable statistics on the composition of the population

2.Measures taken to improve data collection on the ethnic composition of the population, particularly the Roma population (CERD/C/SVK/9-10, para. 5).

The Convention in domestic law and the institutional and policy framework for its implementation (arts. 2-4)

3.Measures adopted to ensure the effective implementation of the Anti-discrimination Act, and of the National Action Plan for Preventing and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism and Other Forms of Intolerance for 2016-2018 (CERD/C/SVK/11-12, para. 205).

4.Measures adopted to facilitate access to justice and effective legal remedies to victims of racial discrimination. Statistical data on cases of racial discrimination, including the outcomes of investigations, sentences imposed on perpetrators and compensation provided to victims.

5.Measures taken to ensure the independence and effective functioning of the competent bodies dealing with racial discrimination, in particular the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights (CERD/C/SVK/11-12, para. 49).

6.Measures adopted to ensure the effective implementation of the first National Strategy for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights adopted in February 2015 (CERD/C/SVK/11-12, para. 32). Concrete results achieved with the implementation of the Strategy for the Integration of Roma up to 2020 and the “Roma reform”.

7.Measures taken to ensure that the provisions of the Criminal Code are in conformity with article 4 of the Convention and that the motive of racial discrimination is considered as an aggravating circumstance for all criminal offences. Measures taken to prevent the activities and creation of extremist organizations.

Racist hate speech and hate crimes (art. 4)

8.Measures taken to investigate, prevent and punish hate crimes and hate speech, including those committed or instigated by politicians, against minority groups such as Roma, Muslims, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Updated statistical data on the number and nature of hate crimes, convictions and sentences imposed on perpetrators, disaggregated by age, gender and national or ethnic origin of victims and compensation awarded, where applicable.

9.Implementation of measures to combat racist political discourse, as well as hate speech in the media and on the Internet. Statistical data on disciplinary and other measures to control such manifestations.

Situation of ethnic minorities (arts. 2-7)

10.Statistical data on cases involving excessive use of force by police and other law enforcement officials against persons belonging to ethnic minorities, including the outcomes of investigations, sentences imposed on perpetrators and compensation provided to victims. Concrete measures adopted to ensure that such cases are investigated promptly, effectively and impartially. Measures adopted to prevent violence and the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials against ethnic minorities, particularly Roma.

11.Implementation of the Integration of Marginalized Roma Communities (CERD/C/SVK/11-12, para. 77) and specific measures adopted to improve access to health care, without discrimination, for ethnic minorities, particularly Roma.

12.Measures taken to improve the housing conditions of Roma, as well as measures adopted to prevent discrimination and segregation in relation to their access to adequate housing, water and sanitation. Data on the incidence of forced evictions of Roma and information on housing alternatives and compensation provided to affected persons. Implementation of measures to address the situation of the Roma population in Plavecky Stvrtok.

13.Concrete results achieved with the measures taken to combat discrimination and segregation of Roma children in education. The impact of the amendments made to the Schools Act, especially regarding the placement of children in specialized classes.

14.Implementation of temporary special measures aimed at promoting equal work opportunities for Roma and their impact on the high rate of unemployment among Roma.

15.Measures taken to combat multiple forms of discrimination against Roma women, particularly in the labour market. Measures taken to address gender-based violence and harmful practices against Roma women who are living in segregated environments. Measures adopted to investigate the cases of sterilization of Roma women without informed consent and to provide compensation to the victims (CERD/C/SVK/11-12, para. 182).

16.Measures taken to ensure adequate access to and promotion of minority languages, particularly Hungarian and Romany.

Situation of non-citizens, including migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons (arts. 5 and 7)

17.The amendments to the Asylum Act and to the Act on the Stay of Foreigners, in particular the new regulation on the detention of asylum seekers (CERD/C/SVK/11-12, paras. 11 and 13). Measures taken to promote the use of alternatives to administrative detention of all persons caught in an irregular situation in the State party and of asylum seekers.

18.Concrete measures taken to prevent and combat discrimination and intolerance against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

19.Implementation of the Integration Policy and the Migration Policy, and the results achieved in the integration of non-nationals.