EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTER 1386 Budapest 62, P.O. Box 906/93, Hungary Phone: (36-1) 413-2200; Fax: (36-1) 413-2201 E-mail:
[email protected] http://errc.org July 30, 2004 WRITTEN COMMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTER CONCERNING THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AT ITS 65th SESSION, AUGUST 2-20, 2004 Executive Summary The European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) respectfully submits written comments concerning the Slovak Republic for consideration by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (“the Committee”) at its 65th session. The ERRC is an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma, in particular strategic litigation, international advocacy, research and policy development, and training of Romani activists. Since its establishment in 1996, the ERRC has established a reputation as the leading international non-governmental organisation engaged in human rights defence of Roma in Europe. The ERRC has undertaken extensive research, policy, law and training work in Slovakia due to the very serious issues Roma face in Slovakia. ERRC publications about Slovakia, as well as additional information about the organisation are available on the Internet at http://www.errc.org. The ERRC is aware of the contents of the Slovak government's fifth periodic report to the CERD,1 as well as other recent Slovak government policy documents of relevance to Roma. We welcome the fact of increasing attention by the Slovak government to policy matters as they relate to Roma.