Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

107th session

8–30 August 2022

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 thirteenth report of Slovakia

Note by the Country Rapporteur

1.The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy-sixth session 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.

Statistics

2.Updated statistical data on the demographic composition of the population based on self-identification. Information about the results of the 2021 Population and Housing Census and the methodology used to collect data.

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

3.The concrete results of the implementation of measures to intensify the enforcement of the Anti-Discrimination Act, in particular the number of complaints of racial discrimination received, those effectively investigated, sanctions imposed on perpetrators and compensation granted to the victims.

4.Update on the adoption of the draft amendments to the Act on the Establishment of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights. Functioning and activities of the Centre in implementing its mandate in relation to combating racial discrimination. Guarantees of independence and functioning of the office of the ombudsperson, including activities relating to the fight against racial discrimination.

5.Implementation of the national action plan for the prevention and elimination of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and other forms of intolerance for the period 2016–2018, its evaluation and information on the preparation of a new action plan.

6.Compliance of criminal legislation of the State party with article 4 (b) of the Convention. Information on the number of cases of racially motivated crimes, including verbal and physical attacks, as well as investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sentences.

7.Implementation of measures to prevent and combat racist hate speech, particularly in the media and on the Internet. Number of cases of hate speech, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and sentences. Impact of awareness-raising campaigns for the elimination of racial discrimination.

Situation of ethnic minorities (arts. 2–7)

8.Results of the implementation of measures to combat structural discrimination against Roma, in particular the results of the National Roma Integration Strategy, in terms of access to employment and adequate housing, and poverty alleviation.

9.Results of the measures adopted to improve the living conditions of Roma and the participation of the affected communities in designing and implementing such measures. Concrete measures adopted to combat residential segregation affecting Roma, including the construction of walls to separate Roma and non-Roma communities.

10.Implementation of measures to address the root causes of discrimination against and segregation of Roma children in the education system and to decrease their overrepresentation in specialized classes or schools.

11.Measures to prevent and combat all forms of discrimination against and segregation of Roma in the health-care system and to ensure access.

12.Implementation of measures to prevent the excessive use of force against, ill-treatment of and abuse of authority against persons belonging to ethnic minorities. Cases of excessive use of force, ill-treatment and other forms of abuse by law enforcement officials against ethnic minorities, in particular Roma: investigations, convictions, prosecutions, sentences and reparation granted to victims. The functions, composition and guarantees of independence of the recently established Office of the Inspection Service of the Police Force.

13.Measures adopted to ensure access to education by children belonging to ethnic minorities, in particular Roma, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

14.Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ethnic minorities, including access to health-care services, measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, and equal access to vaccines.

15.Concrete measures adopted to promote and ensure the political participation and representation of persons of belonging to ethnic minorities, in particular Roma, in decision-making positions and in representative institutions.

16.Measures to combat multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination against women belonging to ethnic minorities, in particular Roma. Number of investigated cases of discriminatory treatment, including verbal and physical violence against Roma in the health-care system, and the results of such investigations.

17.Concrete information on the measures adopted to ensure that Roma women who were victims of sterilization without their informed consent have access to effective remedies and adequate compensation.

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

18.Implementation of measures for the inclusive integration of migrants, particularly the introduction of free Slovak language and integration classes. Information on access to adequate housing for migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees.

19.Measures adopted to provide alternatives to the detention of asylum-seekers and migrants and implementation of measures to prevent the detention of unaccompanied children.

20.Measures adopted to provide access to the State party’s territory to all persons fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and to provide them with adequate protection.