01
Mar

Strong and effective NHRIs in the EU

As part of the project Supporting National Human Rights Institutions in Monitoring Fundamental Rights and Human Rights Aspects of the Rule of  Law (“Project”),  the Centre participated on international conference on strengthening the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights through stronger and more effective NHRIs in the EU.

20
Feb

LGBTI+ people, media and human rights defenders in focus of 4th cycle of the UPR

We attended the pre-session meeting on the implementation of international human rights obligations under the ongoing 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Slovak Republic at the UN in Geneva. The pre-session was intended for representatives of Member States accredited to the United Nations in Geneva to provide them with the information on the Slovak Republic’s compliance with its human rights obligations for the purpose of formulating recommendations for Slovakia under the 4th cycle of the UPR.

During the pre-session, we had the opportunity to present our position on the fulfilment of human rights in Slovakia, focusing on the rights of LGBTI+ people, media freedom and the safety of journalists, as well as a space for human rights defenders, which has long been a focus of the Centre’s attention. Within the above human rights topics, we reported in particular on:

  • Slovakia’s long-term violation of LGBTI+ rights caused by the absence of legal protection of same-sex couples, accessibility and barriers of medical and legal transition, the stigmatising exclusion of gay and bisexual men from blood donation, and ongoing attempts to restrict the rights of LGBTI+ people through legislative proposals; 
  • an increase in hate speech and harassment of journalists, as well as significant interference with media freedom;
  • the shrinking democratic space for civil society and human rights defenders, including fragmented regulation and insufficient funding.

In the ongoing 4th cycle, Slovakia will be reviewed at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council in May 2024, where it will receive recommendations from UN Member States. For this purpose, the Centre also submitted its individual submission to the UN Human Rights Council in October 2023, in which it addressed a number of key issues and shortcomings related to the protection and promotion of human rights in Slovakia, including recommendations for the Slovak Republic. The Centre will continue to monitor the progress of the 4th cycle of the UPR and report on the implementation of the recommendations accepted by the Slovak Republic.

20
Feb

Baseline report on the potential for strengthening the fundamental rights situation through a stronger use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

As part of the project entitled Supporting National Human Rights Institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law (information about the project; information about the project on the FRA page), the Centre prepared Baseline report on the potential for strengthening the fundamental rights situation through a stronger use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Charter).

16
Jan

Institutional Structure for the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights at the National Level

As part of the project Supporting national human rights institutions in monitoring fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights prepared a study entitled Institutional Structure for the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights at the National Level. The project is funded by EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation. (information on the FRA page)

16
Jan

The role of national bodies with a human rights remit in ensuring fundamental rights compliance of EU funds

Slovak National Centre for Human Rights, together with the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and six other EU Member States, is implementing a regional project entitled Supporting National Human Rights Institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law. The project is funded by EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation.

12
Dec

Workshop on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: how it went

On 7 December 2023 we prepared a workshop on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for NGOs and other institutions protecting human rights. For example, representatives of the Office of the Public Defender of Rights, the Centre for the International Legal Protection of Children and Youth or the Inakost Initiative took attended the workshop.

04
Dec

Workshop on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for students of Trnava University

On 29 November 2023 we organized a workshop on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for students of Trnava University as part of the online event Truniversity Debates III. What was it about?

02
Nov

Workshop on the topic Use of EU funds: what we learned

Slovak National Centre for Human Rights organized a workshop on the topic Use of EU funds in respect and promotion of fundamental rights: a guide to applying the new conditionality on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights on 30.10.2023

13
Oct

We submitted a report addressing key human rights issues in Slovakia

The Centre has been actively involved in the universal periodic review process (UPR) within its monitoring activities in relation to implementation of human rights commitments by the Slovak Republic. UPR is a unique UN mechanism monitoring implementation of human rights obligations of the UN member states, which involves periodic peer review of all 193 UN member states. It is a universal procedure covering all areas of human rights irrespective of thematic focus.