DOCSLIB.ORG

Wildlife Trade in Central and Eastern Europe

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Wildlife Trade in Central and Eastern Europe WILDLIFE TRADE IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE A REVIEW OF CITES IMPLEMENTATION IN 15 COUNTRIES KATALIN KECSE-NAGY, DOROTTYA PAPP, AMELIE KNAPP, STEPHANIE VON MEIBOM A TRAFFIC EUROPE REPORT TRAFFICR This report was published with the kind support of Published by TRAFFIC Europe - Central Eastern, Budapest, Hungary. © 2006 TRAFFIC Europe All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copy- righted and may be produced with permission. Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must credit TRAFFIC Europe as the copyright owner. The views of the author expressed in this publica- tion do not necessarily reflect those of the TRAFFIC network, WWF or IUCN. The designations of geographical entities in this publication, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of TRAFFIC or its supporting organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The TRAFFIC symbol copyright and Registered Trademark ownership is held by WWF. TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN. Suggested citation: Kecse-Nagy, K., Papp, D.; Knapp, A., von Meibom, S. (2006): Wildlife trade in Central and Eastern Europe. A review of CITES implementation in 15 countries. TRAFFIC Europe report, Budapest, Hungary ISBN 2-9600505-3-3 EAN code: 9782960050530 Cover pictures: Danube River. Credit: WWF-Canon / Anton VORAUER European Cyclamen Cyclamen europeaum. Credit: WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER Sturgeon Acipenser sturio. Credit: WWF-Canon / Hartmut JUNGIUS Brown Bear Ursus arctos. Credit: WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER Printed on recycled paper WILDLIFE TRADE IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE A review of CITES implementation in 15 countries by Katalin Kecse-Nagy, Dorottya Papp, Amelie Knapp and Stephanie von Meibom Farmer with cart and donkeys, Romania. © WWF-Canon / Anton Vorauer CONTENTS Acknowledgements 1 Executive summary 2 Introduction 8 Methodology 10 Overview of the legal trade in CITES-listed species in Central and Eastern Europe 12 Country reviews of the implementation and enforcement of CITES and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations in Central and Eastern Europe 28 Bulgaria 29 Croatia 31 Cyprus 35 Czech Republic 38 Estonia 43 Hungary 46 Latvia 50 Lithuania 53 Malta 57 Poland 60 Romania 63 Serbia and Montenegro 66 Slovakia 70 Slovenia 74 Turkey 79 Overview of common issues related to the implementation and enforcement of CITES and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations in Central and Eastern Europe 82 Discussion and conclusions 100 Recommendations 105 References 108 Annexes 109 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was made possible with financial contributions from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management of Austria, WWF-Austria, WWF-Germany and WWF-Italy. The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for its support to TRAFFIC in the production of this report. TRAFFIC would also like to thank the Austrian Government, WWF-Austria, WWF-Germany, WWF-Italy and WWF-Hungary for providing general support to TRAFFIC Europe–Central Eastern Project Office. The authors are grateful to the numerous persons who kindly contributed to the preparation of this report by providing information for and reviewing parts of the report. In addition thanks are also due for assisting with the organization of meetings with national representatives of the different CITES and enforcement authorities in their respective countries, namely: Bulgaria: Valeri Georgiev and Maria Karadimova, Ministry of Environment and Water Croatia: Darka Spudic and Katica Bezuh, Ministry of Culture Cyprus: Antonis Antoniou and Elena Erotokritou, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Czech Republic: Jan Kucera, Ministry of the Environment and Pavla Rihova, Czech Environmental Inspectorate Estonia: Kadri Alasi, Ministry of Environment Hungary: Katalin Rodics, Levente Kőrösi, Anna Práger, Éva Haaz and Zoltán Czirák, Ministry of Environment Latvia: Gunta Gabrane and Kaspars Abersons, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Nature Protection Board Lithuania: Eugenijus Leonavicius and Kristina Klovaite, Ministry of Environment and Darius Mikelaitis, State Environmental Inspectorate Malta: Charmaine Barbara, Environment Protection Directorate, Malta Environment and Planning Authority Poland: Dagmara Nowacka, Ministry of Environment Romania: Adriana Baz and Roxana Cazacu, Ministry of Environment and Water Management Slovakia: Dana Kmecova and Darina Pospisilova, Ministry of Environment Slovenia: Robert Boljesic, Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy Serbia and Montenegro: Marija Smederevac, Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection and Lazarela Kalezic, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning Turkey: Serap Kantarli, Gökhan Seyhan and Adem Agir, Ministry of Environment and Forestry The writers are particularly grateful to John Caldwell and Tim Inskipp of UNEP-WCMC for their assistance in providing CITES trade data and information on the numbers of CITES-listed species in the Central and Eastern European region. We would also like to thank our colleagues from TRAFFIC and WWF for the assistance provided in the preparation of the report and for reviewing it: Volker Homes, Roland Melisch, Teresa Mulliken, Massimiliano Rocco and Maija Sirola (all TRAFFIC) and Magdalena Romanowicz (WWF-Poland). We highly appreciate the kind contribution of Britta Pätzold from TRAFFIC Europe–Germany to the section on trade in medicinal plants. A particular thank you is due to Caroline Raymakers, the former Director of TRAFFIC Europe for providing guidance and help with the content and with the technical details of the report. The contribution of photographs and maps by several individuals and organizations is much appreciated. 1 Wildlife Trade in Central and Eastern Europe EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Central and Eastern Europe1 (CEE) is a region rich in biodiversity and possesses the majority of the European Union (EU)’s natural wealth. It is home to a wide range of species that are rare or extinct in Western Europe and many of these species are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), such as the Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Wolf Canis lupus, several species of raptors including the Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, sturgeons, and a number of ornamental plant species such as Cyclamen spp. and Galanthus spp. Besides this rich biological diversity, the countries of the Central and Eastern European region are widely diverse geographically, ecologically, culturally and economically. However, in this report they are examined as a whole due to their recent or future EU Accession. The expansion of the EU from 15 to 25 Member States in May 2004 undoubtedly increased the size of the EU’s single market and the EU’s role as a major wildlife consumer and this trend is likely to continue with the next enlargement scheduled for Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, and Croatia, Turkey and other countries planning to follow soon after. Many of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe have traditionally played an important role as wildlife trade ‘transit countries’ in supplying wildlife and wildlife products imported from around the world to the EU. However, with an increase in the standard of living and growing economies, the importation of wildlife and wildlife products for national use and consumption has grown in recent years. Besides this, many of the countries covered by this report are important ‘source’ countries, which export wild species native to their countries to other parts in the world. Ten of the 15 countries considered in this report are members of the EU and therefore have to implement and enforce the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations which directly transpose the provisions of CITES in all 25 EU Member States. Two countries, Bulgaria and Romania, are Acceding countries, and hence have to comply with the requirements of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations from the time they join the EU – prospectively in 2007. Lastly, of the three remaining countries, Croatia and Turkey are considered Candidate countries and Serbia and Montenegro (see footnote below) is a Potential Candidate country and they too have to prepare their national wildlife trade legislation and administration before accession to the EU. This report presents an overview of wildlife trade-related issues in Central and Eastern Europe, including an analysis of the region’s role in global trade in wild animals and plants, examining trade trends and volumes, with a particular focus on species groups that are native to the region and listed in the Appendices of CITES. The report also presents a country-by-country review of the aspects related to the implementation and enforcement of CITES and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations in the 15 Central and Eastern European countries and an analysis of the findings of these country profiles. The aim of the report is to provide up-to-date information about wildlife trade-related issues in the new EU Member States and the upcoming Acceding and Candidate countries and to highlight best practices as well as challenges and obstacles faced by this important region in implementing and enforcing CITES and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. The data used in this report are based on information compiled and collected on a country-by-country basis through available literature and reports, questionnaires,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CR-Czech-Republic-Slovakia
    GROWING INEQUALITIES AND THEIR IMPACTS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA Martin Kahanec Martin Guzi Monika Martišková Michal Paleník Filip Pertold Zuzana Siebertová Country Report for The Czech Republic and Slovakia December 2012 GINI Country Report Czech Republic and Slovakia GINI Country Report Czech Republic and Slovakia Table of Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5 2. The Nature of Inequality and Its Development over Time ............................................................... 7 2.1.1 Household income inequality ................................................................................ 8 2.1.2 Wealth and debt inequality ................................................................................. 19 2.1.3 Labour market inequality .................................................................................... 22 2.1.4 Educational inequality ......................................................................................... 27 2.2 Whom has it affected? ...........................................................................................................33 2.3 Interdependence between the above inequalities over time ................................................38 2.4 Why has inequality grown? ....................................................................................................39 2.5 Conclusions .............................................................................................................................40
    [Show full text]
  • Slovak-Ukrainian Relations
    Alexander Duleba Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association, Bratislava December 2002 Slovak-Ukrainian Relations 1. Introduction Slovak-Ukrainian relations as to their changing bilateral agenda since 1993 when Slovakia became an independent state with its own foreign-policy making could be staggered into the following three distinct periods: 1) 1993-1998; 2) 1998-2000; and 3) since 2001. The Slovak attitude toward Ukraine during the first period might be characterized like an „indifferent neighborhood”. The then Slovak governments were viewing Ukraine rather like a „gate to Russia„ than a partner worthy of attention for itself. In the Slovak eastern policy at that period Ukraine was simply overshadowed by Russia. The new Slovak government that came to power in afterwards of the September 1998 elections has proclaimed a will to change the attitudes and practices of the previous years, but without real results. Quite on the contrary, years of 1998-2000 could be characterized like the most problematic years in the Slovak-Ukrainian modern relationship since both countries gained independence at the beginning of 1990s. The diplomatic competition of the both countries within the UN for chairmanship of the 52 General Assembly followed by the competition for a seat in the UN Security Council representing the Central-European group of countries, has stunned the Slovak-Ukrainian bilateral relations in period of 1998-2000. At that time Slovakia was supporting the Russian plan to construct a new natural gas pipeline – so called Jamal 2 - bypassing the territory of Ukraine via Belarus, Poland and Slovakia - which brought new negative impulses into the Slovak-Ukrainian agenda.
    [Show full text]
  • Slovak Republic Cyber Readiness at a Glance
    SLOVAK REPUBLIC CYBER READINESS AT A GLANCE Melissa Hathaway, Francesca Spidalieri and Anushka Kaushik April 2019 AC INST M IT O U T B T O E P F O G S E R I P D O U LICY ST Copyright © 2019, Cyber Readiness Index 2.0, All rights reserved. Published by Potomac Institute for Policy Studies Potomac Institute for Policy Studies 901 N. Stuart St, Suite 1200 Arlington, VA 22203 www.potomacinstitute.org Telephone: 703.525.0770; Fax: 703.525.0299 Email: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter: @CyberReadyIndex Cover Art by Alex Taliesen. Acknowledgements The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and the authors would like to thank Alex Taliesen for cover art and Sherry Loveless for editorial and design work. SLOVAK REPUBLIC CYBER READINESS AT A GLANCE TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . 2 1 . NATIONAL STRATEGY . .9 . 2 . INCIDENT RESPONSE . 16 . 3 . E-CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT . 21. 4 . INFORMATION SHARING . 24 . 5 . INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT . 26 6 . DIPLOMACY AND TRADE . 30 . 7 . DEFENSE AND CRISIS RESPONSE . 33 CRI 2 .0 BOTTOM LINE . .36 . ENDNOTES . 37. ABOUT THE AUTHORS . 47 . SLOVAK REPUBLIC CYBER READINESS AT A GLANCE Country Population 5,440 million Population Growth 0 .17% GDP at market prices (current $US) $95,769 billion (ranked 64th in 2017) GDP Growth 3 .4% Year Internet Introduced 1992 National Cyber Security Strategy 2008, 2015 Internet Domain(s) .cs and .sk Internet users per 100 users 81 .6 Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 users 25 .8 Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 users 130 .7 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Development and Connectivity Standing International Telecommunications World Economic Forum’s Union (ITU) 46 Networked Readiness Index (NRI) 47 ICT Development Index (IDI) Sources: World Bank (2017), ITU (2017), and NRI (2016).
    [Show full text]
  • Organised Crime in the Slovak Republic1
    Studia Prawnicze. Rozprawy i Materiały 2018, nr 2 (23) • Studies in Law: Research Papers 2018, No. 2 (23) ISSN 1689-8052 • e-ISSN 2451-0807 Tomá š Strémy prof. JUDr., PhD, Department of Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminalistics, Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic Natá lia Hangá č ová JUDr., Department of Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminalistics, Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic Lukáš Turay M.A., Department of Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminalistics, Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic Organised Crime in the Slovak Republic1 1. Organised Crime in the Slovak Republic Having moved into the next century, organised crime and its activities still continue to be an issue. We may recognise some of the activities from count- less action fi lms and television series, but we should not be lulled into believ- ing that these practices take place only on the screen. Th e most typical or- ganised crime activities include drug dealing, extortion, murder-for-hire, and traffi cking in human beings. For the most part, the Slovak Republic became a target of these activities after 1989, and the events that took place during this period led to radical changes in the civic, economic, social, and political life in the country. On the fi rst day of January 1990, on the fourth day after being elected president, Václav Havel (president of the former Czechoslova- kia) announced an amnesty for nearly 80 per cent of the convicted off enders in the country. Twenty thousand off enders, approximately 8000 of whom were Slovaks, would be released from Czechoslovak prisons, creating ideal conditions for the birth of organised crime in Slovakia.
    [Show full text]
  • Financial Crime in Economic Affairs: Case Study of the Slovak Republic
    Financial crime in economic affairs: case study of the Slovak Republic Professor Daniela NOVÁČKOVÁ1 Associate professor Tomáš PERÁČEK2 Associate professor Ľubomíra STRÁŽOVSKÁ3 Boris MUCHA4 Abstract This scientific study analyses in broader terms the financial crime in economic relationships. It introduces concrete facts and processes connected with financial crime that represents the global phenomenon of these days and has significant devastating effects on the economy, society and trust in the legal system. The financial crime has various forms that are more and more sophisticated in the digital era. The study contains updated data about the financial crime in Slovakia and identifies factors having impact on the financial crime. The aim of this study is to contribute to the expert discussion on current economic problems and to point out the responsibility in the management of companies. From among the scientific methods of knowledge we have also used the analytical and descriptive method to approach and analyse the legal situation. By comparative method we introduce different views on the legal regulation and the interpretation of examined notions. The contribution of this study for the theory and practice is pointing out on the undesirable social phenomenon with not only national, but also international dimension. Keywords: business, crime, economic crime, managerial responsibility. JEL Classification: K14, K22 1. Introduction The economic crime represents with regard to its gravity, extent of caused material damage as well as incalculable immaterial loss, international character and the link with organised crime, the serious problem for the criminal policy. When looking back at the change of social structure it is necessary to point out one basic fact.
    [Show full text]
  • TESI COMPLETA Corretta Petrella
    Department of Political Science Chair in Comparative Public Law Is the Press Truly Free? A Comparative Analysis of the Relationship Between the Rule of Law and the Freedom of the Press in Malta, Slovakia and Italy Professor Cristina Fasone Professor Lorenzo Castellani SUPERVISOR CO-SUPERVISOR Beatrice Petrella CANDIDATE Academic Year 2019/2020 “Quam similia sint latrociniis regna absque iustitia.” Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, De Civitate Dei Contra Paganos “The state without rights is a gang of bandits.” Saint Augustine, The City of God against the Pagans 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter I- The Rule of Law ........................................................................................................................ 8 1.1.1 Defining the Rule of Law ................................................................................................................ 8 1.1.2 The importance of the Rule of Law ........................................................................................... 16 1.2 Defining the Rule of Law in the European Union Context ............................................................. 17 1.2.1 Characteristics of the Rule of Law: the Rule of Law Checklist ................................................. 21 1.2.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Common Framework for the Rule of Law ..................... 24 1.3 The Relationship between the Rule
    [Show full text]
  • Slovakia by Grigorij Mesežnikov, Miroslav Kollár, and Martin Bútora
    Slovakia by Grigorij Mesežnikov, Miroslav Kollár, and Martin Bútora Capital: Bratislava Population: 5.4 million GNI/capita, PPP: US$25,842 Source: The data above were provided by The World Bank’s, World Development Indicators 2014. Nations in Transit Ratings and Averaged Scores 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Electoral Process 1.25 1.25 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.75 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 Civil Society 1.25 1.25 1.50 1.50 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 Independent Media 2.25 2.25 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.00 2.75 2.75 2.75 National Democratic Governance 2.00 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 2.75 2.75 2.75 3.00 Local Democratic Governance 2.25 2.00 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 Judicial Framework and Independence 2.00 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 2.75 2.75 3.00 3.00 Corruption 3.00 3.00 3.25 3.25 3.25 3.75 3.50 3.50 3.75 3.75 Democracy Score 2.00 1.96 2.14 2.29 2.46 2.68 2.54 2.50 2.57 2.61 NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s).
    [Show full text]
  • Sovereignty, Autonomy and Right
    PDF hosted at the Radboud Repository of the Radboud University Nijmegen The following full text is a publisher's version. For additional information about this publication click this link. http://repository.ubn.ru.nl/handle/2066/127516 Please be advised that this information was generated on 2021-10-08 and may be subject to change. Sovereignty, Autonomy and Right Human Rights Law and the International Effort to Seek Justice for Romani Women Coercively Sterilized in the Czech and Slovak Republics Claude Cahn Sovereignty, Autonomy and Right Human Rights Law and the International Effort to Seek Justice for Romani Women Coercively Sterilized in the Czech and Slovak Repubücs Claude Cahn Sovereignty, Autonomy and Right Human Rights Law and the International Effort to Seek Justice for Romani Women Cocrcively Sterilized in the Czech and Slovak Republics Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen op gezag van de rector magnificus prof. mr. S.C.J.J. Kortmann volgens besluit van het college van decanen in het openbaar te verdedigen op dinsdag 14 januari 2014 om 16.30 uur precies door Claude Cahn geboren op 7 april 1968 te New Haven (VS) Promotores: Prof. mr. C.A. Groenendijk Prof. dr. E. Guild Manuscriptcommissie: Prof. mr. J.H. Gerards Prof. dr. R.A. Lawson (Universiteit Leiden) Prof. dr. O. de Schutter (Université catholique de Louvain) Lay-out: Hannie van de Put, CMR Printed by: Wolf Legal Publishers © 2013 C. Cahn Behoudens de in of krachtens de Auteurswet van 1912 gestelde uitzonderingen mag niets uit deze uitgave worden verveelvoudigd, opgeslagen in een geautomatiseerd gegevensbestand of openbaar gemaakt, in enige vorm of op enige wijze, hetzij elektronisch, mechanisch, door fotokopieën, opnamen of enige andere manier, zonder voorafgaande schriftelijke toestemming van de uitgever.
    [Show full text]
  • Slovak Republic
    Twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) SLOVAK REPUBLIC Report elaborated by the Department of Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic June 2019 Section One: Priorities, achievements, challenges and setbacks 1. What have been the most important achievements, challenges and set-backs in progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women over the past 5 years? Government of the Slovak republic adopted on November 20th 2014 the National strategy for gender equality for years 2014-2019 (“the strategy”) and a related Action plan for gender equality for years 2014-2019 (“the action plan”). The strategy and the action plan are interconnected and represent a comprehensive conceptual framework for the promotion of gender equality into practice. The Strategy and related action plan stem from the basic strategic documents of the European Union and the Council of Europe. These bind the member states to adopt positive measures aimed at reaching gender equality.1 The representation of women in decision-making positions reached a certain breakthrough in 2018 when, after the government's reconstruction in March 2018, most women in modern history of the Slovak Republic were involved in ministerial seats; of the 15 ministers, there are 5 women, representing 33.3%. The positive trend followed in 2019, when the first female president in Slovakia’s history has been elected in the popular vote in March 2019. The highest representation of women is in the judiciary, where women outnumber men approximately by 70%.
    [Show full text]
  • Zeszyt Naukowy
    ZESZYT NAUKOWY „Apeiron” Wyższa Szkoła Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego i Indywidualnego w Krakowie „Zeszyt Naukowy” Wyższej Szkoły Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego i Indywidualnego „Apeiron” w Krakowie powstaje przy współpracy: Katedry Administracji i Zarządzania oraz Katedry Filozofii i Teorii Bezpieczeństwa Nr 5 Kraków 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filozofia bezpieczeństwa • Administracja • Psychologia • Edukacja Duchowość • Kręgi kulturowe • Prawo • Misja Uczelni • Socjologia Historia • Securitologia • Modern Bushidō • Nauki Społeczne MAGDALÉNA ONDICOVÁ, DAGMAR KRÁLOVIČOVÁ Economic C rime in the Context of the Slovak Republic Abstract: The article summarizes information on the development of crime registered in the Slovak Republic since "the independent Slovak Republic", i.e. from 1993 to the last registered year 2009. Article also focuses at the level of economic crime detection as well as its share in total crime registered in the Slovak Republic for the mentioned period. In conclusion, there is an indication of the change in the structure of economic crime registered in the Slovak Republic between the years 1993 and 2009. Key words: economic crime, crime situation, crime structure, detection rate of crime The first references to a crime in the economic sphere were mentioned in the second half of the 19th century, in the speech by Edwin C. Hill, who named the perpetrators of the economic crime the “criminal capitalists”. Significant progress in this regard was made by Edwin H. Sutherland, who in 1939 described economic crime as a "White-Collar Criminality" (white collar crime), and this name is used till now. B. Clinard, as a successor of the Sutherland theory, defines the crime of "white collars" as a violation of the law by a particular group of traders, free workers and officials in connection with their work 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Written Comments of the European Roma Rights Center
    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.
    [Show full text]
  • Communist Crimes in Slovakia
    The Czechoslovak Communist Party, and its section of the Slovak Communist Party, are responsible for the way of government in Borders with the West were our country between 1948 and 1989, in particular for a purpose- protected by fortification of ful destruction of the traditional values of European civilisation, the Iron Curtain national and religious rights, for a deliberate violation of human rights and freedoms, for judicial crimes committed during state trials, for terror against defendants of opinions differing from the teachings of Marxism-Leninism, for devastation of the economy, for destruction of the traditional principles of the right to owner- ship, and for abusing education, science and culture for political and ideological purposes. Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 125/1996 of 27 March 1996 on the immorality and illegality of the communist system The frenzy of communism was particularly characteristic of the 1950s. The recklessness and cruelty of those in power created an intense atmosphere of fear. Intrusive propaganda and cheap demagogy disrupted and deformed traditional values. The mer- 1980s ciless force of the rising political power broke characters. Human relationships were filled with mistrust and denunciations. And yet, Regime violently people put up resistance and fought for their religion, truth and smashed believers justice. Prisons, labour camps and camps of the convicted were during Candle being filled. In prison jargon such a person was simply called a Manifestation for mukl – a man on death row (from Slovak: muž určený k likvidácii, Human Rights and a man to be destroyed). The first victims died at the hands of ex- Religious Freedom ecutioners or from deadly bullets of border guards.
    [Show full text]