Exchange of preliminary findings with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

On March 21 2021, Executive Director Silvia Porubänová, alongside with the Centre representatives Zuzana Pavlíčková and Katarína Medľová, met with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović and her team as a part of a monitoring/mapping visit to Slovakia in connection with people fleeing Ukraine’s war conflict. Representatives from the Office of the Public Defender of Human Rights, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also attended the meeting (UNHCR).

The main aim of the meeting was to exchange preliminary findings on the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms of people fleeing Ukraine’s war conflict, such as access to information on their fundamental rights, protection from human trafficking, protection from discrimination, and the specific challenges faced by vulnerable groups (women, children, Roma and third-country nationals). The Centre informed the Commissioner of its preliminary findings from the mapping exercise, as well as the next actions and activities planned, at the meeting.

After her monitoring visit to the border region, the Commissioner concluded that most of the reception centres she and her teams visited were well-organised and competently managed. Nevertheless, most reception places are aimed only at short term stay and are not suitable for longer presence. With shortages of both privately provided and government-sponsored accommodation already being acute, there is a severe risk that such temporary reception places become long-term housing solutions for which they are clearly not adapted. “I am impressed by the enormous efforts that my teams and I saw in all the countries we visited. However, relying mainly on such civil society and local efforts is not sustainable and it is important that state authorities assume more responsibility, as they are now doing in some of the member states.”

Special attention should be paid to the protection of specific groups of people. Additionally, in relation to the many women and girls fleeing Ukraine, access to sexual and reproductive health services in member states visited may be problematic and this should be a particular point of attention, especially as regards those fleeing Ukraine who may need specific assistance, including access to safe and legal abortion services.

Concerns were also raised about other groups. Reports were received that in some cases Roma have been treated differently due to deep-seated prejudices against them, affecting opportunities to access housing, assistance and other facilities. Similar concerns have been raised, for example, in relation to persons of African descent. LGBTI people, older persons and persons with disabilities were also identified as particularly vulnerable. Many of them require more proactive assistance and orientation in seeking protection.

We recommend to read the whole statement of The Commissioner.