Committee on the Rights of the Child Ninety- eighth session

Geneva, 13–31January 2025

Consideration of reports of States parties

Replies of Slovakia to the list of issues in relation to its sixth periodic report *

[Date received: 15 October 2024]

Replies to the list of issues (CRC/C/SVK/Q/6)

Reply to paragraph 2 (a) of the list of issues

1.The area of systematic involvement of civil society, including non-governmental organisations (hereinafter referred to as “NGOs”) and children’s organisations in the planning, implementation, monitoring, policy evaluation and providing the necessary funding for NGOs is also provided by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the public in preparing legislative and non-legislative documents. For example, Act No. 525/2010 Coll. on the Provision of Subsidies within the Competence of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, as amended, enables civil societies, non-governmental organisations and organisations for children to participate directly in national programmes, action plans and strategies within which the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic publishes calls and conditions for drawing funds from the budgetary chapter of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. The involvement of civil society in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, plans and programmes related to children’s rights is ensured through the Slovak Government Council for Crime Prevention, the Expert Group for Children and Youth Crime Prevention, the Committee for Preventing and Eliminating Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance and the Expert Group on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings, where representatives of civil society are actively represented and co-participate in crime prevention activities, including in areas involving children as a risk group of population in the field of crime prevention. The financing of non‑governmental organisations is provided annually through calls for subsidies from the state budget in the area of crime prevention, while the supported projects are in line with the priorities of the Crime Prevention Strategy and other anti-social activities in the Slovak Republic until 2028, approved by Government Resolution No. 189 of 19 April 2023.

2.The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter referred to as the “MoERDY SR”) financially supports work with youth through a subsidy scheme administered by a directly managed organisation of the Ministry – the National Institute of Education and Youth (NIEY). From 2020 to 2024, €14,156,909.13 has been earmarked to support youth work projects.

Reply to paragraph 2 (b) of the list of issues

3.Data collection in the area of health is mainly carried out on the basis of Act No. 153/2013 Coll. On the National Health Information System. The purpose of data processing, the list of processed data and the circle of data subjects about whom the data are processed, as well as the purpose of their provision to third parties, are regulated by Annex No. 2 National Health Registers and Annex No. 3 Identification of Events Characterising the Health Status of the Population of this Act. For the purposes of health statistics, the National Centre for Health Information processes data from national health registers, as well as national health administrative registers, and reports on the detection of events characterising the health status of the population and statistical reports in health care.

4.The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family hereinafter referred to as the “MoLSAF SR”) plans to integrate the KIDS information system with other information systems that have information on children in vulnerable situations.

Reply to paragraph 2 (c) of the list of issues

5.The Code of Criminal Procedure in force since 15 April 2024 regulates the elements of the hearing of a witness who is a child, so as to eliminate the risk of secondary victimisation. It also provides for the possibility of bringing in a psychologist by videoconference, who, taking into account the subject matter of the hearing and the degree of mental development of the witness, will contribute to the proper conduct of the hearing. A legal representative or teacher is also invited to the hearing, if that may contribute to the proper conduct of the hearing.

6.If there could be a conflict of interests between parents and a minor child or between minor children represented by the same parent, the court appoints a guardian to represent the minor child in the proceedings or in a certain legal act; this is the so-called “litigation friend” position. The court also appoints a litigation friend in cases where the minor child has no legal representative or where the legal representative cannot represent the minor child in the proceedings or in a particular legal act for a serious reason. As a rule, the competent labour, social affairs and family office (SPCSG authority) is appointed as a litigation friend.

7.A litigation friend is entitled to and obliged to represent the minor child in the proceedings to the extent determined by the court, so that the protection of the interests of the minor child is properly ensured, regardless of the possible interests of either parent.

8.Pursuant to Act No. 305/2005 Coll. on Social and Legal Protection of Children and Social Guardianship, children have the right to ask the authority for social and legal protection of children and social guardianship or another competent state authority, institution, municipality, school and other legal and natural persons for assistance in protecting their rights. All authorities, legal entities and natural persons are obliged to provide children with immediate assistance in protecting their life and health, to take measures to ensure their rights and legally protected interests, including by mediating this assistance. This also applies if children cannot, due to their age and mental maturity, request assistance themselves, but through a third party.

9.Each Children and Family Centre (hereinafter referred to as “CFC”) has prominently displayed information available to children on the institutions dealing with the observance of children’s rights and the protection of children’s interests, together with contact details and secure access to contact those institutions. CFCs have mailboxes for communication with the district prosecutor’s office, and district prosecutors regularly enter the court decisions enforcement facilities (CDEFs) and have the opportunity to conduct individual interviews with the children without other staff present. Children have available updated contact details for the competent SPCSG authority, for “their” social worker and the CFC Director, as well as the Commissioner for Children and available helplines.

Reply to paragraph 2 (d) of the list of issues

10.The key strategic material is the National Strategy “Childhood without Violence for all Children (2023–2026)” approved by a resolution of the Government of the Slovak Republic, for the fulfilment of which, in addition to the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, also such ministries as the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic claimed responsibility as administrators and co-administrators, and the cooperating entities are the General Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Slovak Republic, the Commissioner for Children, the Ombudsman, NGOs and other entities. The national strategy “Childhood without Violence for all Children” builds on the 2014 National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Violence. The aim is to:

•Support and development of competences for the purpose of coordinating multidisciplinary responses to violence against children at the national and regional level;

•Clarify the competences, powers and duties of cooperating actors – efficient cooperation;

•Cooperate in the implementation of international documents and cooperation with international organisations in the field of protection of children from violence and respect for children’s rights;

•Create a positive climate and a safe environment for children – safeguarding (in all establishments, at formally organised events);

•Promote and develop children’s activism, involving children in decision-making processes;

•Connect public administration representatives and professionals to address the necessary systemic changes to meet the best interests of minors in the field of mental health;

•Promote and develop innovative methods in working with children in different life situations at the national and regional level (street work, club work and peer programmes; low-threshold programmes for children and youth, volunteer programmes ...).

Reply to paragraph 3 (a) of the list of issues

11.The purpose of the European Child Guarantee is to prevent and reduce poverty and social exclusion by guaranteeing access for children in need (persons under the age of 18 at risk of poverty or social exclusion) to a set of key services, including a gender perspective to take the different situations of girls and boys into account, and thereby contributing to the respect, protection and fulfilment of the rights of a child and non-discrimination by reducing child poverty and promoting equal opportunities. The National Action Plan of the European Child Guarantee (ECG NAP) includes four main areas, namely: effective access to education at all levels and to school activities, access to adequate housing and social care, effective and free access to quality health care and regular access to a healthy diet.

12.On 7 April 2021, the Government of the Slovak Republic approved the Strategy for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of Roma until 2030 by the Resolution No. 181/2021. Poor information and lack of awareness-raising contribute (in addition to discrimination and self-exclusion) to less frequent use of health services. The EU Strategic Framework for Roma includes a number of process indicators in its health recommendations: awareness-raising campaigns and programmes, participation in preventive check-ups with particular attention on prevention in pregnancy and in children, and vaccination of vulnerable groups. The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic has published a call “Conducting community health awareness-raising especially for members of Marginalised Roma Communities (MRC) and disadvantaged groups to promote health and prevent diseases” with a closing date of 24 November 2023. The aim is to improve equitable and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable care services, including health care for disadvantaged population groups, with an emphasis on MRCs in all eight regions of the Slovak Republic.

13.The “National Programme for the Development of Living Conditions of People with Disabilities 2021–2030” was approved by Slovak Government Resolution No. 109 of 24 February 2021. Within the meaning of the resolution, the Government of the Slovak Republic instructed members of the Government to ensure the implementation of tasks resulting from the National Programme for the Development of Living Conditions for People with Disabilities for the Years 2021–2030 within the approved expenditure limits of the relevant budget chapter by 31 December 2030.

14.Ministry of Education:

•Introducing the definition of segregation in education into Act No. 245/2008 Coll. (the School Act) in May 2023 with immediate effect;

•Developing a Methodological Manual on Desegregation in Education which provides schools, founders, public administration staff and the public with an explanation of the issue and a typology with causes and suggestions for possible solutions;

15.Submitting the Social Services Funding Framework for public consultation by the end of 2023 was a milestone of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) – the milestone has been met – the Draft Framework is posted online. The deadline for submitting the Framework for the Reform of Social Services Financing to the Government of the Slovak Republic has been postponed from April 2024 to December 2024, and new legislation is expected to be approved with effect from 2026.

Reply to paragraph 3 (b) of the list of issues

16.In 2023, the National Coordination Centre (NCC) (MoLSAF SR), as the coordinator of the policy for the protection of children from violence in Slovakia, submitted to the Government the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Violence “Childhood without Violence for All Children (2023–2029)” and the Action Plan based on the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Violence “Childhood without Violence for All Children (2023–2026)”, which were approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic by Government Resolution No. 594 of 13 November 2023. Within the framework of the Strategic Objective 2: Children, as a component of society, it committed to a number of tasks, such as: Promotion and development of children’s media literacy and critical thinking, Promotion and development of children’s education in the field of human rights and democratic citizenship, tolerance and respect for difference, Prevention of children’s extremism and radicalisation.

17.In 2023, the Commissioner for Children established the Children and Youth Parliament as his advisory body. The members of the parliament include representatives of selected school parliaments and youth organisations, including representatives of the most vulnerable groups of children (children from marginalised Roma communities, children in foster care, children of refugees from Ukraine, LGBTI children). The main objective of the parliament is to strengthen children’s participation.

Reply to paragraph 3 (c) of the list of issues

18.The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic has prepared a working version of the draft amendment to Act No. 365/2004 Coll. on Equal Treatment in Certain Areas and Protection Against Discrimination (the Anti-Discrimination Act), which regulates the definition of multiple discrimination as well as reasonable adjustments (including the refusal to make reasonable adjustments as discrimination on the grounds of disability) in the areas defined by the Anti-Discrimination Act.

19.Within the Ministry of Culture, the Inter-Ministerial Working Group for the Protection of Children from a Manipulative Worldview and Spiritual Groups aims at raising the awareness and interconnectedness of various ministries and experts in addressing problems related to the penetration of a manipulative worldview and spiritual groups into the sphere of protection of children’s rights, as well as at creating efficient information channels for communicating this issue towards the target groups.

20.Ministry of Education – Research on radicalisation, extremism, hoaxes and propaganda (2021–2024) – collection of research data (quantitative/qualitative), studies on the prevalence of the phenomenon, tools for working with children and youth in classrooms, elaboration of methodological materials for pedagogical and professional staff.

Reply to paragraph 4 of the list of issues

21.“Expert Guideline of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic on the procedure for the operation of a public incubator and the provision of inpatient health care to newborns placed in a publicly accessible incubator.” in the Bulletin of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, Vol. 70, No. 36–43, dated 28 July 2022. This Expert Guideline entered into force on the date of its publication.

22.The document replaces the expert guideline from 2009, with the most important change being the addition of the procedure for the operation of a publicly accessible incubator and the provision of inpatient health care to newborns placed in the Rescue Nest and the standards for the care of newborns placed in the Rescue Nest, as well as the care of the Rescue Nest to ensure the functionality and maintenance of the Rescue Nest.

Reply to paragraph 5 (a) of the list of issues

23.Within the territory of the Slovak Republic, the National Coordination Centre for Addressing Violence against Children is the sponsor of the National Framework for the Protection of Children in the Digital Space. The Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic is involved in the implementation of the selected tasks resulting from the action plan for the framework for a specific period of time. Fulfilment of the tasks from the action plan is done on the basis of funds allocated from the state budget. No specific earmarked financial means have been allocated or earmarked for such purpose.

24.The activities of the Action Plan for the National Framework for the Protection of Children in the Digital Space 2022–2023 were supported from the Promotion of the Protection of Children from Violence national plan with an amount of approximately EUR 80,000 and also by the MoLSAF SR’s own tasks with a total of EUR 30,000 and also supported from the national project Together for Childhood without Violence for All Children in the amount of approximately EUR 136,000.

Reply to paragraph 5 (b) of the list of issues

25.Ministry of Culture – changes in the area of protection of minors have been brought about by the adoption of new legislation – Act No. 264/2022 Coll. on Media Services (the Media Services Act). The Media Services Act aims, among other things, to increase the protection of minors from inappropriate media content.

26.Police officers in the Prevention Department (“Prevention Officers”) focus on various topics leading to protection against crime and other socio-pathological phenomena as a part of their practical preventive activities. One of the topics is the “safe use of information and communication technologies”.

Reply to paragraph 6 (a) of the list of issues

27.Ministry of Education – Podcasts of the Research Institute of Child Psychology and Pathopsychology – Speaking Up for Children – for parents and the expert public, e.g., Emotion School for Parents section – targeted at managing emotions, etc.

Reply to paragraph 6 (b) of the list of issues

28.The Department of Standard Clinical Practices and Department of Modernisation of Psychological and Psychiatric Care of the Ministry of Health of SR have held discussions with doctors specialising in psychiatry and sexology to develop a standard diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for diagnosing and treating patients with paraphilias. This procedure is closely linked to the standard operating procedure for the implementation of protective treatments, which can only come into force after the amendment of the Criminal Code.

29.A specialised separate group can be set up in the CFC for children who require increased care because they have been tortured, sexually abused or have been subjected to offences that threaten their healthy development.

30.A specialised programme can be implemented for such children within the CFC in groups with a set number of children. As of 1 December 2021, a group for the carrying out of residential measures with a specialised programme for children who have been tortured, physically abused, sexually abused or victims of trafficking in human beings was established in the CFC Sečovce. The capacity of the group is ten children. On 1 January 2024, a group with a specialised programme was established in the CFC Poprad with a capacity of 10 children.

Reply to paragraph 6 (c) of the list of issues

31.As the coordinator of the policy for the protection of children from violence in Slovakia, the NCC (MoLSAF SR) is also responsible for strengthening multidisciplinary cooperation at the regional level, within which coordinators for the protection of children from violence operate. The topic of forced marriages has been one of the key issues, especially in the Nitra region, where we have seen several such cases. In addition to a number of continuously implemented prevention activities in the region and multidisciplinary meetings in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and the Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities, there are also continuous educational activities on this topic with teachers, psychologists, social workers and the Police. A leaflet with basic information on identification signs and possibilities of assistance was also prepared through a joint initiative of the NCC, the Ministry of Interior of SR (Crime Prevention Department) and the Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities.

32.Additional measures adopted:

•Early identification of child victims of forced marriage;

•Setting up effective prevention procedures;

•Effective punishment of offenders in terms of eliminating the use of exceptional sentence reductions and the imposition of suspended prison sentences.

Reply to paragraph 7 (a) of the list of issues

33.The Commissioner for Children is aware of the important role of local authorities and their importance in supporting work with the family as a prevention against the removal of a child from a family; therefore, it has continued to work with the representatives of the Union of Slovak Towns and Municipalities on two areas of problems that are the reason for removal of a child from their original biological family: truancy and lack of housing, as these are the main reasons for which children are removed from their families. In relation to judicial practice, changes have been enforced in the Code of Non-Contentious Civil Procedure, where the duration of an urgent measure for a child placed in an institution is limited to 6 months, the possibility of lifting an urgent measure under Sections 365 and 367 of the Code of Non‑Contentious Civil Procedure is introduced, the possibility of lifting an urgent measure if the circumstances change or if the reasons for which the interim measure was issued no longer apply was introduced, and a time limit of 10 days after the date of receipt of the application for a decision to revoke the interim measure was established, which will significantly help reduce the period of the child’s stay in the institution and his/her return to his/her family.

34.Since October 2020, the SPCSG system has been implementing the conference model of working with families through the Family Circle Meetings (FCM) model, which integrates family conferences into the process of case management social work as a functional tool for a consistent assessment of the situation of the child and his/her family, including a comprehensive assessment of the possibilities of parents, relatives and other close persons of the child to address the situation of the child and his/her family, as well as a tool for team planning of timely, targeted and purposeful interventions in the process of working with the family.

35.There are a number of education and training programmes available in Slovakia to meet the needs of educators and professional foster parents.

Reply to paragraph 7 (b) of the list of issues

36.On reaching lawful age, children have an opportunity to remain in the CFC as young adults until they become independent, up to the maximum age of 25.

37.Pocket money and gifts in kind are granted to young adults preparing for a vocation. During their stay in a CFC while preparing for a vocation, a young adult is entitled to a child allowance, parental maintenance or substitute child maintenance and a material hardship allowance. Severely disabled young adults are entitled to a disability pension.

38.During the period of care in the CFC, young adults live in a group for young adults where they prepare for eventually becoming independent. The young adult’s independence preparation plan is drawn up at least one year before the child reaches lawful age. The young adult is guided to acquire skills in various areas – health care, independent living, financial literacy, planning for their future including social inclusion.

39.The CFC provides a one-off allowance to a young adult to facilitate the young adult’s independence (hereinafter referred to as the “allowance”), for the young adult’s housing, housing-related matters and vocational training.

Reply to paragraph 8 of the list of issues

40.The collection of data in the health sector is carried out mainly on the basis of Act No. 153/2013 Coll., on the National Health Information System. For the purposes of health statistics, the National Centre for Health Information processes data from national health registers, as well as national health administrative registers, and reports on the detection of events characterising the health status of the population and statistical reports in health care.

41.Ensuring that the needs of children needing assistance for the full development of their developmental potential and their families are met is also implemented in the area of responsibility of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family through the provision of social services. According to the Report on the Social Situation of the Population for 2022, early intervention services were provided to 2,534 beneficiaries. Such services are mainly provided by 26 non-public providers and 15 public providers and are provided on the basis of a doctor’s referral. A total of 1,508 children aged 4–7 and 928 children aged 1–3 were provided with early intervention services. Data collection on PSDs is broken down, e.g., by age, sex, type of disability (based on the Annex 3 to Act No. 447/2008 Coll.), nationality, region, social status, income, degree of functional impairment, type of dependence for compensation, type of the card issued (disabled person’s card, parking card), type of monetary contributions for compensation and degree of dependence on the assistance of another person.

Reply to paragraph 9 (a) of the list of issues

42.Both neonatal and infant mortality increased year-on-year. 285 children died before the age of 1 year, including 175 newborns under 28 days old, in the Slovak Republic in 2022. The infant mortality rate (number of deaths under the age of one per 1,000 live births) reached 5.4%, representing an increase by 0.5 percentage points from 2021. The highest infant mortality rates were repeatedly recorded in the Prešov Region (10.6%) and in the Košice Region (8.7%). The lowest infant mortality rate was in the Bratislava Region (2.5%). The neonatal mortality rate (number of deaths within 28 days per 1,000 live births) increased year-on-year from 2.6% to 3.3%. The highest neonatal mortality rates were seen in the Prešov (5.9%) and Košice regions (4.9%), the lowest in the Žilina region (1.2%).

43.The main tasks, programmes and activities for the prevention of maternal and infant mortality are laid down in the Slovak legislation. They are elaborated in more detail in subsequent documents, in particular in the Framework of Health Care in Gynaecology and Obstetrics published in the Bulletin of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, the Framework of Health Care in General Medicine, the Framework of Health Care in Neonatology, standard procedures, professional guidelines and non-legislative documents, such as strategies and action plans approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic.

Reply to paragraph 9 (b) of the list of issues

44.Measures contained in the National Action Plan of the European Child Guarantee:

•Measure: Provision of community health education in the MRC setting with a focus on pregnant women, mothers and young Roma women: Provision of health education directly in the MRC setting at the community level;

•Measure: Increase life expectancy by reducing neonatal/infant mortality: The activity under this measure is: implementation of a newborn and infant visitation service in MRC settings by a paediatric care provider coupled with health education and encouragement of mothers to participate in gynaecological preventive care;

•Measure: Implementing programmes focusing on counselling activities for families, including third-country nationals (TCN), with a view to healthy child development and the availability of early childhood intervention systems.

Reply to paragraph 9 (c) of the list of issues

45.Pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 245/2008 Coll. on Education and Training (the School Act), the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic publishes state educational programmes for medical fields of study that prepare pupils for the exercise of medical professions at secondary medical schools in the Slovak Republic. The state educational programmes within the framework of vocational education and training include thematic units focused on sexual education, reproductive and sexual health and education for marriage and parenthood.

Reply to paragraph 9 (d) of the list of issues

46.In December 2022, the Government of the Slovak Republic adopted the National Action Plan on Tobacco and Related Products Control for 2023–2030, which is thematically based on the National Tobacco Control Programme adopted by the Government of the Slovak Republic by Resolution No. 398 of 2 May 2007, the National Action Plan on Tobacco Control for 2009–2010, the National Action Plan on Tobacco Control for 2012–2014 and the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). The main objective of the new Action Plan is to introduce a set of measures aimed at reducing the demand for smoking products as well as related and emerging products.

Reply to paragraph 9 (e) of the list of issues

47.One of the main priorities of the National Mental Health Programme is the mental health care of children and youth, particularly in the following areas:

•Building community centres in marginalised areas – possibility of day stays with education about performing daily activities, care for children, family;

•Expanding the network of spa facilities for children with psychiatric diagnoses;

•Strengthening communities;

•Improving access to support services for families and children;

•Focusing more on primary prevention and early intervention for all, with a particular need to address vulnerable population groups, in particular children, youth, disadvantaged persons, children in foster care, ethnic minorities and migrants, in order to prevent their destigmatisation.

48.The MoERDY SR implements the national project “Mental Health and Prevention” – implementation of systemic and systematic activities in the field of prevention and promotion of mental health (key focus: prevention programmes of risk behaviour including bullying, social-psychological training for pedagogical and professional staff, including in skills to cope with manifestations of risk behaviour of children, supervision).

Reply to paragraph 10 (a) of the list of issues

49.The bill has not yet been submitted to the Slovak Government for discussion, and work on it has been suspended on the basis of a political decision. Should work on the Climate Bill resume, it would have to be significantly updated.

Reply to paragraph 10 (b) of the list of issues

50.As recommended by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, both the Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) and the Child Rights Impact Evaluation (CRIE) form a continuous process of assessment and evaluation of impacts on children’s rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols form the basic legal framework for the execution of such processes. The need to consider not only direct but also indirect impacts on children’s rights is emphasised. CRIA should be implemented as soon as possible and CRIE only after a certain period of time has elapsed since implementation. Children’s views should be taken into account in both processes. Impact assessments and evaluations should be published regularly. Each year, the MoERDY SR prepares a call for schools for a school development project which must be based on the objectives of the educational areas and cross-cutting themes of the national education programme, with an emphasis on the cross-cutting theme of environmental education, and on the school’s own educational programme.

51.The Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic conducts various educational events focused on the climate change. Together with the Slovak Environmental Agency (SAŽP), they have set up the EWOBOX environmental education portal, which serves the general public, pupils from nursery school to university students, NGOs, professionals and educators.

52.The MoE SR has taken a number of measures to improve air quality. One of them is the IP LIFE – Improving Air Quality project. The main aim of the project is to promote effective air quality management in order to improve air quality and reduce the exposure of the population to the harmful effects of air pollutants.

Reply to paragraph 11 (a) of the list of issues

53.Measures resulting from the European Child Guarantee:

•Measure: Prevent spatial and social segregation through methodical guidance and application of desegregation tools;

•Measure: Provide systemic and methodological support for the introduction of inclusive education for children and pupils from MRCs;

•Measure: Implement inclusive education programmes for children and pupils from MRCs at all levels of the education system;

•Measure: Systematically mitigate and eliminate the manifestations of segregation in the educational process at all levels of the education system;

•Measure: Increase access of pupils from MRCs to mainstream education by supporting the transformation of special education.

Reply to paragraph 11 (b) of the list of issues

54.Measure resulting from the European Child Guarantee: To enable native language education for children and pupils from RCs at all levels of education.

Reply to paragraph 11 (c) of the list of issues

55.Measure resulting from the European Child Guarantee: Creation of flexible forms of care for children up to the age of entry into compulsory pre-primary education. Establishment of playgroups especially for Ukrainian children up to the age of entry into compulsory pre-primary education.

56.Ensuring access to compulsory schooling for children from Ukraine is laid down in Act No. 245/2008 Coll. on Education (the School Act). As of 30 January 2024, the total number of departees from Ukraine enrolled in Slovak schools is 11,818, of which 1,875 are in nursery schools, 7,570 in primary schools and 1,507 in secondary vocational schools. The highest number of such pupils and students is in the Bratislava region (3,961), the lowest in the Banská Bystrica region.

57.In the field of education, challenges related to access to education, language support, learning support and psychosocial support were identified. One of the main challenges is the removal of the existing barriers to compulsory schooling for Ukrainian children and its gradual introduction in Slovakia, as in a number of European countries. The role of the Commissioner in this process is to act as a coordinator between the different institutions and to regularly create a platform for the exchange of information and the search for solutions in the areas in question.

Reply to paragraph 11 (d) of the list of issues

58.Measure resulting from the European Child Guarantee: Ensure an effective system of identification and referral of children in need, at full developmental potential, including children with disabilities or children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, to support and assistance systems in the areas of education, health and labour, social affairs and family.

59.The Union of Slovak Towns and Municipalities and the National Institute of Education and Youth signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Technical Nursery Schools project. The subject of the Memorandum is cooperation between the parties concerning mutual exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of transfer of innovations and in the implementation of the “Technical Nursery Schools” project and mutual support and cooperation in the field of education.

Reply to paragraph 11 (e) of the list of issues

60.Measure resulting from the European Child Guarantee: Development of staff capacities in the field of formalised care for children up to the age of entry into compulsory pre-primary education. More about the measures may be found here.

61.A national project “Opportunity for All” is also being set up at the MoERDY SR; its aim is to pilot test the desegregation process, implemented with the help of model desegregation projects. The resulting good practice and proven procedures will be publicly available and helpful to other schools going through the desegregation process.

62.Strategy of an Inclusive Approach in Education and Training was approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic in its Resolution No. 732 of 8 December 2021. The Strategy was developed in accordance with the principles of public strategy development, with the involvement of a wide range of relevant actors. It is a strategic framework document which, through priority areas, defines the direction of public policies to achieve a change in the field of education of children, pupils and students towards inclusive education. The long‑term goal is to create an environment conducive to inclusive education, motivating schools to become inclusive while encouraging parents to see inclusive schools as the primary option for their children’s education.

63.Strategy of an Inclusive Approach in Education and Training – the First Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy of an Inclusive Approach in Education and Training 2022–2024 is developed. The main task of this document is to elaborate and specify the strategic objectives approved in the Inclusive Approach Strategy for 2022–2024 and thus to respond to the requirement to implement inclusion in the Slovak education system, i.e., to educate all children, pupils and students without distinction.

64.Support measures:

•Act No. 182/2023 Coll., introduced a system of support measures to contribute to ensuring that conditions are in place for meeting the diagnosed special educational needs of children and pupils. The aim of the gradual introduction of support measures is to fully involve children or pupils in education and training and to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities.

65.Standards of Professional Activities in the counselling and prevention system:

•The draft standards were developed by the Research Institute of Child Psychology and Pathopsychology in Bratislava within the national project “Standardisation of the system of counselling and prevention for inclusion and success on the labour market”. The Standards include a framework for the performance and content of professional activities in the provision of professional care, education and training by a diagnostic centre, re-education centre and medical-educational sanatorium, in particular professional activities within the meaning of Sections 121, 122 and 123 of the School Act.

Reply to paragraph 11 (f) of the list of issues

66.On 12 June 2023, the Slovak Government approved the Culture and Creative Industries Strategy 2030, which also includes measures aimed at the target group of children and youth (e.g., in the areas of literacy development, arts education, accessibility of admission fees, etc.).

67.The Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic ensures the right of children to cultural life and the arts through the organisations under its jurisdiction (museums, galleries, libraries, cultural and educational establishments, observatories, theatre and music ensembles, etc.) which provide special programmes for children and youth.

68.The MoERDY SR supports youth and children’s organisations working with youth through a subsidy scheme to support youth work.

Reply to paragraph 12 (a) of the list of issues

69.The decision to detain aliens or asylum-seekers is the responsibility of the relevant department of the Foreigners Police. Asylum-seeking minors accompanied by their legal representatives are placed with their legal representatives in asylum facilities or, upon request (together with their legal representatives), are allowed to stay outside the asylum facility.

70.In the conditions of the Slovak Republic, unaccompanied alien minors found on our territory are placed in an institution of social and legal protection of children and social guardianship on the basis of a decision of the competent court. At the same time, a caretaker/guardian is appointed by the court to act on their behalf and in their best interests.

Reply to paragraph 12 (b) of the list of issues

71.The Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO) and the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) have prepared a Guide to Children’s Participation in Decisions about Their Health. The Ministry of Health participated in the preparation of the Guide with the representative of the Slovak delegation to the CDBIO and the National Coordination Centre for Addressing Violence against Children. The aim of the Guide is to provide practical guidance to health and other professionals working for and with children on how to improve their practices when involving children in decision-making processes affecting their health.

72.This area is covered by the Migration Office of the Ministry of the Interior of SR, which first of all assesses all available information and documents submitted by the unaccompanied minor or his/her guardian, and estimates his/her age based on physical appearance. However, if after the evaluation of all available information doubts remain as to the age of the applicant, he/she is obliged to undergo a medical examination which in the case of a minor foreigner requires the consent of his/her legal representative or guardian. The exact method of examination is determined by the medical expert.

Reply to paragraph 9 (c) of the list of issues

73.According to the Asylum Act, the Migration Office grants asylum for the purpose of family reunification if the family reunification is with an asylum seeker who has been granted asylum on the grounds of well-founded fears of persecution on racial, national or religious grounds, on the grounds of having certain political opinions or on the grounds of belonging to a certain social group. In the case of an asylum seeker who has been granted asylum on humanitarian grounds, asylum for the purpose of family reunification cannot be granted to other family members (as defined in Section 10 of the Asylum Act).

Reply to paragraph 13 of the list of issues

74.In 2023, a new judicial map came into force, the main objective of which is to increase the credibility of the judiciary, its quality and its performance, by increasing the size of the districts of individual courts, creating a new causal jurisdiction and administrative courts, which will allow for the specialisation of judges in particular agendas. The specialisation of judges should ensure that their expertise is increased through targeted training in specific agendas, speed up court proceedings and improve the quality of court decisions.

75.Following the findings of the GP SR regarding misconduct in the placement of children in re-education centres, the Ministry of Justice has prepared a draft decree which should introduce the obligation for a judge to always hear a minor child before placing him/her in a re-education centre. Further changes have been made in the handling of the family law agenda in the courts.

76.The main changes include:

•One guardianship judge for all proceedings involving the same minor child or his/her siblings;

•Mandatory hearings;

•Establishment of a six-month time limit for the court to order enforcement;

•Enforcement of the decision in the presence of the court;

•Avoidance of inadequate prolongation of proceedings;

•Introduction of joint personal custody of the child of divorcing parents.

Reply to paragraph 14 of the list of issues

77.The National Unit for Combatting Illegal Migration of the Bureau of Border and Foreign Police of the Presidium of the Police Force (hereinafter referred to as the “NUCIM”) is an executive, organisational, coordinating and conceptual unit responsible for the prevention, detection, documentation and investigation of organised, repeated and serious crime in the field of combatting illegal migration, trafficking in human beings and other cross-border criminal activities operating throughout the Slovak Republic. Children are also among the victims of this crime. The NUCIM has specially trained members in operational‑search activities and investigators likewise specially trained to clarify the above criminal activity. The NUCIM also cooperates and carries out preventive activities, in particular training, with various entities in order to prevent and stop trafficking in human beings, i.e., also trafficking in children.

Reply to paragraph 15 (a) and (b) of the list of issues

78.Following the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Ministry of Justice presented a proposal to add a new offence of “involvement of children in armed conflicts” within the framework of an amendment to the Criminal Code by 2026.

79.With regard to the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on international obligations concerning the activities of private military and security companies during armed conflicts, as set out in the Montreux Document (2016/2238 INI), Act No. 91/2016 Coll. on the Liability of Legal Entities introduced direct criminal liability in the Slovak Republic applicable to Legal Entities, including private security services or companies. The scope of this Act is defined quite broadly in Section 2, whereby Section 2 (6) provides for the criminalisation of an act committed by a legal entity even if it is provided for in an international treaty that has been ratified and promulgated in the manner provided for by law and by which the Slovak Republic is bound.

Reply to paragraph 16 (a) of the list of issues

80.There have been a number of legislative changes in the current legislation since 2020 to date; we would like to mention some of them:

•Act No. 576/2004 Coll. on Health Care and Services Related to the Provision of Health Care and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended. A change in the temporal version of the regulation effective from 1 June 2024 to 31 December 2024 was made, e.g., in Section 11 (17): “When health care is provided in connection with childbirth, the woman has the right to be accompanied by a person designated by her. The woman shall be allowed to be accompanied by more than one person designated by her, if the conditions of the health care establishment so permit;

•Act No. 577/2004 coll. on the Scope of Health Care Reimbursed under Public Health Insurance and on Reimbursement for Services Related to the Provision of Health Care and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended. A change in the temporal version of the regulation effective from 1 January 2024 was made, e.g., in Section 2 (g) “two preventive examinations of the pregnant insured woman by a dentist; one preventive examination at the end of the first trimester or at the beginning of the second trimester; and one preventive examination in the third trimester,” and in Section 2 (1) and (2) “The public health insurance shall fully reimburse for full newborn screening.” “The range of medical procedures included in newborn screening is set out in the Annex 1a.”;

•Act No. 153/2013 Coll. on the National Health Information System and on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Acts, as amended. A change in the temporal version of the regulation effective from 1 January 2023 to 29 December 2023 was made, e.g., in Section 4 (3) “Processed personal data and confidential statistical data15c) from the national health registers pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be provided and made available only to the extent pursuant to this Act;

•Decree of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 526/2007 Coll. laying down details of requirements for recovery events.

Reply to paragraph 16 (b) of the list of issues

81.The Slovak Government Council for Mental Health was established on 24 February 2021 by the Government of the Slovak Republic as its permanent advisory body, which performs coordinating, consultative and professional tasks in the field of protection and promotion of mental health, prevention of mental disorders, psychodiagnosis, treatment of mental disorders, follow-up care of patients with mental disorders, mental health research, education of professionals providing mental health care and services, development of mental health policy and monitoring of quality in the aforementioned areas.

82.Efforts are also currently being made to establish the Safe Internet Centre of the Slovak Republic and to join Insafe, the European network of safe Internet centres.

Reply to paragraph 16 (c) of the list of issues

83.On 23 January 2023, the Ministry of Health approved the General Outpatient Care Strategy until 2030, which aims to complete the ongoing reform of general outpatient care. The document includes a strategic framework for general outpatient care for children and adolescents (“primary paediatrics”). The document is a strategic forward-looking paper aimed at the stabilisation and development of general outpatient care until 2030. Conceptually, it is based on the updated document “Strategic Framework for Health Care 2014–2030” which lists priorities in its section 4.2 but lacks specific measures.

84.On 28 June 2022, the Government of the Slovak Republic adopted the National Strategy for the Development of Coordinated Early Intervention and Early Care Services 2022–2030. On 24 May 2023, the Government of the Slovak Republic adopted the Action Plan for 2023–2025 for the National Strategy for the Development of Coordinated Early Intervention and Early Care Services 2022–2030. The aim of the strategy is to contribute to the development of coordinated and integrated early intervention and early care services. The Action Plan aims to implement specific actions and tasks arising from the Strategy.

Data, statistics and other information

Reply to paragraph 18 (a) of the list of issues

85.In 2021–2023 we have records of the following number of children who have been forced into marriage:

•2021 – 2 girls (a Slovak girl aged 12 from Nové Zámky exploited in Slovakia, a Slovak girl aged 14 from Rimavská Sobota exploited in Germany);

•2022 – 1 girl (a Slovak girl aged 15 from Piešt'any exploited in Sweden);

•2023 – 0.

Reply to paragraph 18 (b) and (c) of the list of issues

86.The priority objective of the implementation of SPCSG measures is to prevent the emergence of crisis situations in the family and to reduce and eliminate negative influences that threaten a child’s development.

87.Reducing the share of the number of children placed in CFCs on the basis of a court decision ordering institutional care in the total number of children who are placed in CFCs on the basis of a court decision is the main task of the Strategy of DEI in NS and the resulting Framework of Ensuring the Implementation of Measures in Institutions of Social Protection and Social Guardianship for 2021–2025.

The Slovak Republic – completed residence measures of the court due to remediation and entrustment to substitute personal care
CDR	The number of children whose residence measure has been completed by the court due to remediation by individual calendar months	The number of children whose residence measure has been completed by the court due to being placed in substitute personal care by individual calendar months	Total number of completed residence measures
SR	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1 – 12 2023	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	1 – 12 2023	Remediation + substitute personal care
BA region T otal	4	1	2	3	5	7	5	0	0	3	2	1	33	0	1	0	0	4	2	3	0	4	0	4	0	18	51
NR region T otal	2	2	4	0	1	2	5	2	1	3	3	7	32	4	0	0	1	5	4	5	0	0	2	3	0	24	56
TT region T otal	1	1	3	5	3	0	0	6	2	2	7	3	33	0	2	3	4	1	0	0	4	0	7	2	1	24	57
TN region T otal	1	5	2	5	3	1	2	6	2	5	5	1	38	1	0	0	0	1	3	2	0	2	1	0	0	10	48
ZA region T otal	6	4	2	1	0	0	1	2	2	4	2	2	26	2	1	1	2	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	9	35
BB region T otal	1	0	1	0	5	2	6	3	0	1	3	11	33	2	0	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	7	40
KE region T otal	2	8	3	5	1	1	1	2	9	12	13	13	70	3	8	1	11	2	4	7	3	4	3	9	6	61	131
PO region T otal	2	5	8	0	5	18	5	10	9	12	0	2	76	2	2	2	4	1	1	6	1	1	1	1	2	24	100
SR Total	19	26	25	19	23	31	25	31	25	42	35	40	341	14	14	7	23	14	16	25	9	12	14	19	10	177	518

Children removed from the family environment

88.The following tables show that a total of 1,337 children were placed in all types of institutions for the execution of court decisions (CFC, diagnostic centre, therapeutic‑educational sanatorium and re-education centre) during 2021, 1,508 children in 2022 and 1,382 children in 2023.

Children removed by a court decision from the family environment to institutions for the execution of the court decision in the relevant year
Year	Court Decision	Centres for children and families, including those with specialised program and resocialization program	Share of children under 6 years of age	Diagnostic centres	Medical and educational sanatorium	Re-education centres	Total
2021	Urgent measure	966		86	23	91	1 166
Educational measure	56	16	5	22	99
Protective measure	X	X	X	5	5
Institutional care	48	X	X	19	67
Children total	1 070	49 . 5%	102	28	137	1 337
2022	Urgent measure	1 138		109	26	99	1 372
Educational measure	41	11	7	19	78
Protective measure	X	X	X	5	5
Institutional care	46	X	X	7	53
Children total	1 225	45 . 6%	120	33	130	1 508
2023	Urgent measure	968		97	19	102	1 186
Educational measure	62	14	5	38	119
Protective measure	X	X	X	6	6
Institutional care	65	X	X	6	71
Children total	1 095	50 . 0%	111	24	152	1 382

Children removed for the relevant calendar year on the basis of a court decision to institutions for the execution of the court decision and the number of children who were ordered to institutional care in the relevant year, broken down by the regions from which they come
Year	Number of children	Region
BA	NR	TT	TN	ZA	BB	KE	PO
2021	T otal number of children removed to institutions for the execution of court decision for the year	118	196	137	105	101	222	246	212
Children who were ordered to institutional care	4	6	6	5	2	26	14	4
2022	T otal number of children removed to institutions for the execution of court decision for the year	101	188	172	126	106	275	249	291
Children who were ordered to institutional care	2	3	5	4	3	14	11	11
2023	T otal number of children removed to institutions for the execution of court decision for the year	133	209	117	81	97	246	264	258
Children who were ordered to institutional care	4	5	3	3	9	19	21	10

Source : Data V-12 for individual regions for 2021 – 2023, modules 10- 1.

Reply to paragraph 18 (d) and (e)of the list of issues

Adolescent pregnancies concluded by giving birth

Statistical data on the number of adolescent pregnancies by age groups	2019	2020	2021	2022
Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18	Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18	Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18	Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18
Number of births given by adolescents	38	1 249	47	1 1 98	43	1 345	44	1 268

Source : National Health Information Centre .

Adolescent pregnancies concluded by abortion

Statistical data on the number of adolescent pregnancies by age groups	2019	2020	2021	2022
Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18	Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18	Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18	Age: 0 – 14	Age: 15 – 18
Number of abortions in the given age group	6	453	16	395	14	365	13	361

Source : National Health Information Centre .

Reply to paragraph 18 (f) of the list of issues

89.In 2023, the following activities were carried out in 36 regional public health authorities of the Slovak Republic, focusing on the target group – children and youth:

Prevention of socially pathological phenomena	Number of activities	Number of participants
Smoking	527	12 744
Alcohol	462	9 095
	substance addiction	473	8 834
non-substance addiction	136	2 879

Above : First row – prevention of socially pathological phenomena/ number of activities/number of participants. Second row – smoking. Third row – alcohol. Fourth row – drugs (substance addiction/non-substance addiction) .

Reply to paragraph 18 (g) and (h) of the list of issues

90.2021 – 170.

91.2022 – 96.

92.2023 – 144.

Note : The data was provided by IS Migra as of 22 April 2024.

Reply to paragraph 18 (i) of the list of issues

93.2021 – Number of investigated cases in which the victims were children and prosecutions were initiated – 9.

94.2022 – Number of investigated cases in which the victims were children and prosecutions were initiated – 10.

95.2023 – Number of investigated cases in which the victims were children and prosecutions were initiated – 10.

Reply to paragraphs 19 (a) to (d) and paragraph 20 of the list of issues

96.In 2023, the NCC (MoLSAF SR), as the coordinator of the policy for the protection of children from violence in Slovakia, submitted to the Government the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Violence, Childhood without Violence for All Children (2023–2029) and the Action Plan based on the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Violence, Childhood without Violence for All Children (2023–2026). The children themselves were involved in the creation in a participatory way through which they formulated new goals and tasks and stressed their importance.

Reply to paragraph 21 of the list of issues

Allowances for alternative childcare support

	Total number of beneficiaries
2020	2021	2022	2023
Allowance for entrusting to foster care	857	973	1 190	1 084
Allowance on the cessation of foster care	502	611	670	649
Repeated allowance for a child	8 880	9 174	9 312	9 244
Repeated allowance for a foster parent	2 661	2 679	3 267	3 488
Remuneration for a foster partner	4	1	0	0
Special repeated allowance for a foster parent	67	61	65	67

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

	Amount paid in EUR
2020	2021	2022	2023
Allowance for entrusting to foster care	457 918	639 047	949 823	896 249
Allowance on the cessation of foster care	495 431	614 598	700 496	746 649
Repeated allowance for a child	19 529 754	20 885 279	21 428 982	20 160 184
Repeated allowance for a foster parent	4 834 168	4 941 164	6 241 902	7 519 093
Remuneration for a foster parent
Special repeated allowance for a foster parent	62 136	57 343	121 785	229 155

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

State social support benefits

Child allowance

	Child allowance
2020	2021	2022	2023
Average monthly number of beneficiaries	654 835	658 303	659 930	661 702
Average monthly number of children	1 097 958	1 107 519	1 112 955	1 117 400
Total amount of funds paid out	333 160 509	413 254 305	458 366 596	777 338 112

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

Child allowance supplement

	Child Allowance Supplement
2020	2021	2022	2023
Average monthly number of beneficiaries	1 589	1 513	1 481	1 829

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

Childcare allowance

	Average monthly number of beneficiaries
2020	2021	2022	2023
Average monthly number of beneficiaries	678	257	290	285

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

	Total amount of funds paid out
2020	2021	2022	2023
Childcare allowance	1 873 206	486 322	435 772	344 811

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

Parental Allowance

	Total amount of funds paid out
2020	2021	2022	2023
Average monthly number of beneficiaries	142 149	140 954	139 743	137 384
Amount paid	553 736 919	578 730 883	583 305 805	643 606 550

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

Other allowances for family support

	Total number of beneficiaries
2020	2021	2022	2023
Childbirth allowance	53 547	53 131	54 793	45 420
Surcharge for the childbirth allowance	x	x	x	x
Increased childbirth allowance	558	610	598	535
Allowance for parents who have 3 or more children or repeated twins	113	106	98	99

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

	Total amount of funds paid out
2020	2021	2022	2023
Childbirth allowance	42 901 397	42 540 112	44 064 429	36 965 837
Surcharge for the childbirth allowance	x	x	x	x
Allowance for parents who have 3 or more children or repeated twins	38 736	36 640	33 770	33 991

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

Substitute child maintenance

	Average monthly number of beneficiaries
2020	2021	2022	2023
Substitute child maintenance	4 804	4 896	5 724	7 023
– unpaid maintenance	4 320	4 357	4 952	5 865
– orphan ’ s pension	484	539	772	1 158

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

	Average monthly number of beneficiaries
2020	2021	2022	2023
Substitute child maintenance	5 643 758	6 091 332	8 364 111	10 295 555
– unpaid maintenance	5 343 885	5 742 135	7 146 510	8 688 724
– orphan ’ s pension	299 873	349 197	1 217 601	1 606 832

Source : RSD MIS, OLSAF .

Total number of beneficiaries of one-off cash allowances for compensation for severe disabilities by age and sex in 2020

	0–5	6–17
Men	Women	Men	Women
Allowance for the purchase of an aid	39	33	135	73
Allowance for the adjustment of an aid	0	0	1	1
Allowance for the purchase of a lifting device	6	3	24	20
Allowance for the adjustment of a passenger vehicle	3	0	13	5
Allowance for adapting a flat	0	1	3	2
Allowance for adapting a family house	0	1	5	10
Allowance for repair of an aid	0	1	44	25
Allowance for the purchase of a passenger vehicle	92	43	247	116
Total number of beneficiaries*	651	452	5 336	4 328

* If severely disabled recipients from both tables receive multiple benefits, they are counted only once (uniqueness), except for the care allowance where the recipient is a different person .

Number of beneficiaries of recurring cash allowances for compensation for severe disabilities by age and sex in December 2020

	0–5	6–17
Men	Women	Men	Women
Personal assistance allowance	0	0	213	140
Allowance for transport	2	1	33	13
Compensatory allowance for extra costs – meals	196	207	1 631	2 211
Compensatory allowance for extra costs – hygiene or wear and tear	382	214	2 335	1 610
Compensatory allowance for extra costs – OMV operation	371	190	2 845	1 493
Cash allowance for caring – cared persons	0	0	4 059	2 237

Total number of beneficiaries of one-off cash allowances for compensation for severe disabilities by age and sex in 2021

	0–5	6–17
Men	Women	Men	Women
Allowance for the purchase of an aid	43	31	165	109
Allowance for training of using an aid	0	0	2	0
Allowance for the adjustment of an aid	0	0	3	0
Allowance for the purchase of a lifting device	3	2	30	16
Allowance for the adjustment of a passenger vehicle	2	1	9	6
Allowance for adapting a flat	0	0	1	5
Allowance for adapting a family house	0	0	6	3
Allowance for repair of an aid	0	0	29	20
Allowance for the purchase of a passenger vehicle	96	41	268	115
Total number of beneficiaries*	637	489	5 720	4 440

* If severely disabled recipients from both tables receive multiple benefits, they are counted only once ( uniqueness), except for the care allowance where the recipient is a different person .

Number of beneficiaries of recurring cash allowances for compensation for severe disabilities by age and sex in December 2021

	0–5	6–17
Men	Women	Men	Women
Personal assistance allowance	0	0	220	132
Allowance for transport	0	2	36	15
Compensatory allowance for extra costs – meals	190	217	1 662	2 226
Compensatory allowance for extra costs – hygiene or wear and tear	399	235	2 784	1 710
Compensatory allowance for extra costs – OMV operation	341	205	3 051	1 545