Roma women in Slovakia continue to face human rights violations and multiple discrimination in various areas of life. We have long documented serious violations of their rights in the area of ​​healthcare and reproductive health. Romani women face segregation practices in maternity wards, racially motivated harassment and humiliation, neglect of care, physical restraint and rough treatment during childbirth, or deficiencies related to the provision of informed consent by medical staff. In the past, they have faced the practice of illegal sterilization, which has not yet been thoroughly investigated and the injured women have not been adequately compensated.

With this project, we want to further develop our cooperation with a group of Roma activists and jointly improve the observance of the reproductive rights of Roma women in Slovakia. At the joint meetings, we will plan activities for the protection of the reproductive rights of Roma women, which we will then carry out together. In relation to state authorities, we will continue to promote the necessary measures to improve the situation in this area. We will also create space for Roma activists to share their stories and experiences of violations of reproductive rights so that the general public can learn about them to a greater extent. In this regard, we want to actively work with social networks and redesign our website.

We will also support the group of Roma activists in networking and developing cooperation with other Roma activists, as well as groups and organizations that promote women’s rights. We will also support them in mobilizing other Roma women in their communities. We want to ensure that the violation of reproductive rights becomes more widely known to the public and that efforts for the necessary changes are given greater public support.

We are implementing the project in the period from 1 January to 31 August 2021 thanks to the financial support of the Slovak-Czech Women’s Fund.