On 25 October 2022, we met with representatives of the Office of the Public Defender of Rights and together we talked primarily about the necessary measures towards the adoption of an effective compensation mechanism for illegally sterilized Roma women, which would bring them justice.

At the end of the meeting, we expressed our belief that the Slovak Parliament will decide on a new Public Defender of Rights at its November meeting and that he will soon take up his position. The current situation means that there is no one to decide on the complaints with which people turn to this office. The time for addressing them is increasing. And among them are also complaints that we addressed to the Office from our NGO earlier. Electing a new ombudsman as soon as possible is important for entire Slovak society.

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The advocacy meeting has been realised within the project Promoting human rights of Roma minority by using legal means of protection and in cooperation with local Roma activists supported by a program Active Citizens Fund – Slovakia that is financed from the Financial mechnism EEA 2014-2021. The program is managed by the Ekopolis Foundation in partnership with the Open Society Foundation and Carpathian Foundation.