Slovakia: “Segregation and anti-Gypsyism at the core of Roma
exclusion”
Strasbourg, 20/12/11
– “Concrete action to counter anti-Gypsyism and discrimination against
Roma must be given priority by the authorities of Slovakia” said the
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg,
releasing today his
report following a visit to Slovakia carried out from 26 to 27
September 2011, which focuses on the protection of the human rights of
Roma and persons with disabilities.
Racist and anti-Roma discourse is still common among mainstream
politicians in Slovakia, as well as in the broadcasting and print media.
“The Slovak authorities should increase their efforts to prevent the
spreading of such prejudices, including by promoting self-regulation
within political parties and the media and implementing more thoroughly
the relevant criminal provisions.”
In order to address continuing reported instances of violent hate crimes
targeting ethnic minorities, including Roma, the Commissioner calls on
the Slovak authorities to better apply the criminal law provisions
establishing racial motivation as an aggravating circumstance.
The Slovak authorities have taken initiatives to tackle misconduct of
law enforcement officers targeting Roma, but this practice persists.
Efforts underway must therefore be extended, ensuring that effective
investigations take place and any officials found responsible is
adequately punished. “The Slovak authorities should consider the
establishment of a body, independent from the police and prosecution
authorities, able to investigate police misconduct, including in cases
of racial discrimination”, the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner is concerned that many Roma children in Slovakia
continue to receive education of lower quality than their non-Roma peers
due to policies and practices resulting in segregation. “Roma children
are disproportionately placed in special schools for children with mild
mental disabilities or assigned to Roma-only mainstream schools or
classes. There is an urgent need to address this situation by fostering
inclusive education.”
Roma families also suffer from inadequate housing and a number of
interconnected problems, including sub-standard material conditions,
segregation, lack of security of tenure and difficulties accessing
social housing. “Authorities at all levels should invest in the
development of safe and affordable housing solutions for Roma in
integrated communities and avoid housing programmes and practices that
currently result in segregation. Walls separating Roma from non-Roma
areas should be dismantled and never rebuilt. The Commissioner further
recommends improvements in the material conditions prevailing in many
Roma settlements, including ensuring access to potable water,
electricity, sewage and waste removal, as well as transportation and
road provisions.
Progress remains to be made in Slovakia in dealing with past practices
and with cases of sterilisation of Roma women without their full and
informed consent. Effective investigations into all such allegations and
adequate punishment of those responsible must be ensured. “This includes
both adequate compensation and a public acknowledgment and expression of
regret over forced sterilisations” said the Commissioner.
Another concern is that many Roma children are placed in institutional
care. “No child should be placed in institutional care solely on grounds
relating to the poor housing conditions or financial situation of the
child’s family. Priority should be given to supporting and fostering the
development of the child within the family, while the
institutionalisation of children, including Roma children, should remain
the exception.”
The Commissioner notes that many persons with disabilities in Slovakia
live in large institutions separated from the rest of society and that
most children with intellectual disabilities are educated in special
schools. “These situations of separation must be reversed” said the
Commissioner as he called on the Slovak authorities to adopt a
comprehensive action plan on de-institutionalisation and “make concrete
advances in meeting their obligation to provide children with
disabilities with inclusive education in mainstream schools.”
Furthermore, the Commissioner notes that persons with psycho-social or
intellectual disabilities are often deprived of their legal capacity to
make important decisions concerning their lives, including family
matters, heath, and political participation. “Instead, these persons
should be provided with the specific assistance they may need to take
these decisions”, he said.
On the same day, the Commissioner also published a
letter to the
Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, Mr Rudolf Chmel, calling for further
efforts to achieve a fair balance between the promotion of the State
language and the protection and promotion of national minority
languages, with the aim to prevent tensions between communities.
The authorities’ comments are appended to the report. The response of
the Deputy Prime Minister is available
here.
Press contact in the Commissioner’s Office:
Stefano Montanari, ++ 33 (0)6 61 14 70 37;
stefano.montanari@coe.int Keep up to date with the Commissioner on
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