From 7–9 May 2026, our colleague Agáta participated in the 1st International Mara Forum in Budapest, organized by Emma Egyesület and Romaversitas. The conference created a space for international discussions on human rights, the status of Roma women, and the challenges they face.

During the conference, our colleague presented the work of the Poradna and also took part in a roundtable discussion focused on violations of the reproductive rights of Roma women in Slovakia. In her presentation, she highlighted the serious issue of unlawful sterilizations of Roma women and recalled the more than 23 years of advocacy efforts carried out by the Counselling Center together with affected Roma women to promote the adoption of compensation legislation.

She emphasized the need to ensure justice, acknowledge the harm that has been caused, and establish mechanisms that would enable all affected women to obtain redress and compensation.

Participation in the conference was an important opportunity for exchanging experiences, building international contacts, and strengthening cooperation in the field of protecting the human rights of Roma women.

We thank Emma Egyesület and Romaversitas for the invitation and for creating a space for important discussions and sharing experiences.