International Women’s Day is an opportunity to draw the attention of politicians and the public to the fact that we still need systemic solutions to protect the human rights of women and girls in Slovakia. This year, as organisations that defend human rights and help survivors of gender-based and racial violence, we are also marking Women’s Day by reminding those in power that one day of handing out flowers and feigning concern for women and girls is not enough. The state must correct long-standing systemic failures and enforce measures to protect the right to housing, access to adequate health care including reproductive health care without segregation and discrimination, the right to access information and protection from sexual and gender-based violence, and the protection of the rights of all women, regardless of their origin, race, background or membership of the LGBTI+ community. We know the solutions to existing problems, but they need to be finally implemented.

“After so many years, our women who have been illegally sterilised must finally get justice and redress. The government and parliament must therefore act and finally pass a good compensation law already. It is sad that, even today, we Roma women face prejudice, stereotypes and hatred in various areas of our lives. I believe that one day we Roma women will also be accepted by this society and we will have the opportunity to live our lives in an environment that promotes equality and mutual understanding,” said Agáta, Human Rights Monitoring Coordinator at the Consultancy for Civil and Human Rights.

You can read the full version of the joint report in Slovak here.