| For a summary of Slovakia’s review at the first cycle please click here |
18th UPR session
Date of review: 3 February 2014
Date of report adoption: 26 March 2014
Document number: A/HRC/26/12
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SUMMARY SOGIESC issues during Slovakia’s 2nd UPR review |
I. SOGIESC issues/recommendations identified by NGOs
No references.
II. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues from the national report
6. In October 2012, the Committee for the Rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual Persons was endorsed by the Government as an advisory body to the Government Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality. The LGBTI Committee, consisting of representatives of state authorities and nongovernmental organisations, is an expert body with mandate to contribute to further promotion of the rights of LGBTI persons, and to participate in policy preparation with impact on LGBTI.
III. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues by UN agencies
Right to privacy, marriage and family life
42. CESCR was concerned by the fact that homosexual couples were not legally recognized and by the absence of a legal framework for the protection of the rights of such couples. It recommended that Slovakia consider adopting legislation to grant legal recognition to homosexual couples.
IV. References to SOGIESC issues during the Working Group review
10. During the reporting period, important legislative amendments to the Antidiscrimination Act were adopted, with a view to further strengthening protection against discrimination, including widening the scope of the definition of indirect discrimination. By establishing the Committee for the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Persons in October 2012, the Government responded to the need to ensure better awareness of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
37. Australia welcomed progress on ensuring the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.
68. Germany was concerned about the situation of minorities, especially the Roma and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities. […] It also asked for information on efforts to increase acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and to combat discrimination and on the progress made in reducing the unequal treatment of women and better protecting them from domestic violence.
78. The delegation stated that the Constitution prohibited discrimination on any grounds and that the Anti-discrimination Act provided further protection from discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation. In 2012, the Committee for the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Persons had been established with a mandate to contribute to further promotion of the rights of such persons. It was chaired by the Ministry of Justice and consisted of 24 members representing State bodies and NGOs. The Committee had been actively involved in human rights policy making.
92. While noting that Slovakia had introduced important measures to reduce discrimination, Norway […] noted that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons continued to face discrimination, despite the amendment to the Criminal Code concerning sexual orientation.
V. Conclusions and/or recommendations
Slovakia accepted the following recommendations
110.29. That a national action plan for the protection of the human rights of LGBTI persons in Slovakia is developed and implemented, within the context of the planned human rights strategy (Norway);
110.65. Step up its efforts towards advancing the specific courses of action taken in its struggle against discrimination such as programmes to fight poverty and social exclusion, the Strategy for Roma Integration up to 2020 and the endorsement of the Committee for the Rights of LGBTI persons, and launch campaigns to promote tolerance and respect for diversity aimed at all segments of society (Brazil);
110.70. Continue to support the rights of the LGBTI community through its human rights framework (Australia).
VI. Further information
You will find all documents relating to Slovakia’s second review at UPR-Info and OHCHR’s websites.