Implementation issues

AuthorDurbáková, Vanda
Pages98-100
98
8 IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
8.1 Dissemination of information, dialogue with NGOs and between soc ial
partners
a) Dissemination of information about legal protection against discrimination (Article 10
Directive 2000/43 and Article 12 Directive 2000/78)
Some information about legal protection against discrimination (including in English) is
contained on the website of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights (the equality
body, www.snslp.sk). The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family runs a website that
provides a wider range of information concerning the protection from discrimination for the
general public (e.g. an overview of anti-discrimination legislation, forms and grounds of
discrimination, instructions on protection against discrimination). The website also includes
information on how to combat discrimination.426 In 2019, the Ministry of Labour, Social
Affairs and Family announced a call for project proposals specifically aiming at the
prevention and elimin ation of all forms of discrimination. The call aims to support a wide
range of activities including educational and awareness-raising activities on the legal
protection from discrimination. The call was open to 29 November 2019 and was financed
by the EU funds.427
b) Measures to encourage dialogue with NGOs with a view to promoting the principle of
equal treatment (Article 12 Directive 2000/43 and Article 14 Directive 2000/78 )
In 2010, the Council of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Human Rights, National
Minorities and Gende r Equality was set up as a permanent advisory body to the
Government of the Slovak Republic.428 According to its statute, the Council is a permanent
expert, advisory, coordinatin g and consultative body to the Government in the field of
human rights, including the rights of national minorities and ethnic groups and in the field
of pursuing the principle of equal treatment and the principle of gender equality.429 The
Council has 40 members430 and unites representatives of the Government, regional and
local bodies, public human rights institutions, NGOs, academic institutions and vice-
chairpersons of the Council’s committees. The Council has seven committees, which cover
issues of national minorities and ethnic groups, p eople with disabilities, gend er equality,
children and youth, research and education in the field of human rights and developm ent,
the prevention and elimination of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of
intolerance, and the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.431
The Council and its mechanisms are undeniably some kind of forum fo r expert discussion,
networking and exchange of opinions between the Government, NGOs and academia,
representatives of local and regional bodies, human rights institutions and other
stakeholders involved in the protection of hum an rights including non -discrimination. On
the other hand, its structure is rather complicated and ‘all-encompassing’Ľ which is a barrier
per se for its efficient functioning. It does not have clear and flexible me chanisms for
assessing legislation that is under preparation concerning human rights (including the right
to non-discrimination) and giving opinions by the Council thereon (including a clear and
efficient m echanism fo r entering the legislative process), and so there have been many
426 The website is available in Slovak at http://www.gender.gov.sk/diskriminacia/.
427 Response of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of 23 January 2020 to a request for
information of 15 January 2020 (on file with the author).
428 Act on the Organisation of the Activities of the Government and on the Organisation of the Central State
Administration, 575/2001, Section 2(3). The website of the Council of the Government:
www.radavladylp.gov.sk/.
429 Statute of the Council of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Human Rights, National Minorities and
Gender Equality, Article 2. The statute is available at http://www.radavladylp.gov.sk/dokumenty-rady/.
430 The names of the members are available at http://www.radavladylp.gov.sk/zlozenie-rady-vlady-slovenskej-
republiky-pre-ludske-prava-narodnostne-mensiny-a-rodovu-rovnost/.
431 See Statute of the Council of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Human Rights, National Minorities
and Gender Equality, Article 6(1) and (2).

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