On 06.05.2025 we filed a complaint against the Slovak Republic with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The reason for this is the discriminatory setting of conditions for the payment of the childbirth allowance, which in practice unfairly affects marginalised Roma families in particular.

Despite repeated reservations by the UN Committee, laws remain in force which make payment of the allowance conditional on the mother’s compulsory stay in hospital after giving birth until she is discharged by a doctor.

This condition does not take into account the specific circumstances of Roma women, who often have to leave early to care for other children or because of experiences of discrimination and inappropriate treatment in hospitals.

Medical staff should provide mothers who leave the hospital early at their own request with the necessary instruction and issue a written confirmation of their departure at their own request. In reality, however, these procedures are often not followed, which further complicates the situation for women and their families. As a result, families lose out on important financial support that is crucial for their children.

Our efforts to change this unfair legislation have been ongoing for years. As the Slovak courts, including the Constitutional Court, have rejected our arguments, we are appealing to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to oblige Slovakia to respect the rights of all children without distinction.