Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Commend Involvement of Slovakia’s Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, Raise Questions on Use of Restraints in Psychiatric Institutions and Inclusive Education
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its review of the combined second and third periodic reports of Slovakia on efforts made to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Committee Experts commended the involvement of Slovakia’s organizations of persons with disabilities in the review process, while raising questions on the use of physical and chemical restraints in psychiatric institutions, and steps taken to transition towards inclusive education.
Natalia Guala, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, commended the involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities from Slovakia throughout the review process.
Rosemary Kayess, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said despite recommendations from multiple treaty bodies to prohibit the use of physical and chemical restraints in psychiatric institutions, the Committee had received reports that restraints including net beds continued to be used in psychiatric hospitals for long periods of times. Persons with disabilities were mechanically restrained, including for eating and going to the toilet. What had been done to prohibit the use of restraints, isolation and seclusion in psychiatric institutions?
Ms. Guala asked if the State party had a roadmap to transition towards inclusive education for children with disabilities? Why did the State continue to invest in building segregated or “special” schools in the country? Could mainstream schools deny the admission of a student with a disability? What support was provided to students with disabilities?
Introducing the report, Fedor Rosocha, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said Slovakia’s objective was to move beyond individual legislative or policy measures and progressively transform the way disability was addressed across public administration. Reforms included legislative and institutional changes, investment in accessible environments and public services, and stronger cooperation with organizations of persons with disabilities.
The delegation said that until the end of 2024, a person could have been placed in a net bed, but as of 2025, these net beds were forbidden. Providers of care were mandated to report which restraining aid was used to the Ministry of Health. Use of restraining aids was monitored. A methodology guidance had been issued and a register contained which aids were forbidden or could be used. There was also a guidance on the notification of the use of restraining aids. This legislation had come into effect since 1 January 2025. Another decree from the Ministry of Healthcare defined exactly what physical restraint meant, what seclusion meant and which persons could assist medical personnel in using restraining aids.
The delegation said Slovakia was not building additional special schools. The number of pupils involved in inclusive mainstream education was constantly rising. Schools for pupils with health impairments were constantly decreasing. Since 2023, Slovakia had adopted new professional standards for counselling services making assessments and diagnostics of children; 2,500 children had already been tested this year, with the aim to select those who had not been placed correctly and transition them into mainstream education. A system of individualised support had been created for pupils when they required it. Centres were available for the support of students with disabilities.
In closing remarks, Mr. Rosocha expressed sincere appreciation for the opportunity to engage in the constructive dialogue. Slovakia remained determined to continue strengthening policies, legislation and practical measures, bringing the country closer to the full realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Guala thanked Slovakia for the dialogue. The State needed to do away with substituted decision making and limits on the legal capacity of persons with disabilities, and prioritise deinstitutionalisation. The Committee stood ready to support the State party in its goals to working towards a fairer and more equal society.
The delegation of Slovakia was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family; the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation; the Ministry of Transport; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Youth; the Ministry of Interior; the Office for Spatial Planning and Construction; and the Permanent Mission of Slovakia to the United Nations Office at Geneva
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s thirty-fifth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3. p.m. on Thursday, 27 August to hold its twentieth anniversary event and then close its thirty-fifth session.
Report
The Committee has before it the combined second and third periodic reports of Slovakia (CRPD/C/SVK/2-3).
Presentation of Report
FEDOR ROSOCHA, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said Slovakia reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Convention and appreciated the Committee’s continued guidance. The recommendations following the 2016 dialogue had provided an important framework for reforms undertaken over the past decade.
Slovakia’s objective was to move beyond individual legislative or policy measures and progressively transform the way disability was addressed across public administration. This had involved shifting from fragmented, predominantly welfare-based approaches towards a human rights model grounded in equality, autonomy, accessibility and participation. Reforms had included legislative and institutional changes, investment in accessible environments and public services, and stronger cooperation with organizations of persons with disabilities.
A key priority was strengthening legal capacity and personal autonomy. Slovakia had continued reforming its legal framework to ensure the equal recognition of persons with disabilities before the law and to move towards arrangements that respected their will and preferences. These efforts were complemented by stronger procedural safeguards, improved access to justice and enhanced institutional capacity. Persons with disabilities were increasingly recognised as equal rights holders rather than primarily recipients of protection or assistance.
Accessibility had become a central, cross-cutting principle. It was increasingly incorporated into legislation, public investment, digital transformation and public services from the earliest stages of policy development. Modernisation of the built-environment framework strengthened accessibility requirements and introduced universal design principles into planning, construction and renovation. Similar efforts had been made in transport, including improving infrastructure, passenger services and independent travel.
Digital accessibility had also been strengthened through monitoring frameworks, guidance and capacity building for public administration, ensuring that public websites and mobile applications were accessible by design. Accessibility efforts extended to cultural life, including improved access to cultural institutions, information, audiovisual content and accessible formats such as Braille.
Slovakia had also pursued reforms supporting independent living and greater choice and control. The assessment system was being transformed from fragmented, diagnosis-oriented assessments towards a holistic approach that considered functional impact, individual circumstances and required support. A new support model based on individual personal budgets aimed to increase self-determination and ensure services reflected individual preferences.
Community-based services and integrated care were being expanded through the recovery and resilience plan and European Union cohesion funding, supporting the transition away from institutional models. Health-care reforms emphasised multidisciplinary cooperation, early intervention and community-based, person-centred care, with greater coordination between health, social and educational services.
Inclusive education remained a priority, with greater attention to individual learner needs, multidisciplinary support, counselling and teacher training. Economic participation was likewise being promoted through supported employment, active labour-market measures, social enterprises and targeted incentives, recognising employment as important for autonomy, inclusion and participation. Further reforms had strengthened emergency communication and public warning systems, safeguards for victims of crime, and participation in democratic processes, including elections.
Since the first dialogue, Slovakia had sought to build a more coherent disability framework based on equality, accessibility, autonomy, participation and human dignity. While challenges remained, including advancing supported decision-making, expanding community services, strengthening inclusive education, improving accessibility implementation and ensuring meaningful participation in decision-making, Slovakia considered the direction of reform clear. Slovakia was approaching the dialogue in a spirit of openness, partnership and mutual learning.
Questions by a Committee Expert
MARKUS SCHEFER, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said for centuries persons with disabilities had been viewed as incapable of participating in all areas of life on an equal basis with others. Respecting the right of persons with disabilities to have the same opportunities to exercise their rights on the same level as everybody else required rethinking of the charitable and benevolent mindset.
In September 2025, the State party adopted a Constitutional amendment, which raised questions relating to the Convention. Because of its wording, the amendment created the danger of rendering much of the Convention legally irrelevant in the State party. Could the delegation rule out that these amendments might be applied as obstacles to the full implementation of the Convention?
An amendment to the Constitution seemed to be specifically targeted to ensure a certain view of the family with a woman as the mother and a man as the father, thereby excluding others. What measures had been taken to protect the rights of persons with disabilities who were also lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons?
Did the State party have legally entrenched mechanisms which ensured that organizations of persons with disabilities were fully involved before measures were agreed upon?
Mr. Schefer noted the presence of organizations of persons with disabilities that had been paid to come to Geneva by the International Disability Alliance, which was an unusual practice in European countries as they typically had means to travel. What was the State party doing to remedy this situation?
Were there any plans to introduce a provision for reasonable accommodation in the anti-discrimination legislation and extend it for all areas of life? Discrimination of Roma people was a recurring issue in the State party; what was being done to remedy this and to provide an even geographical distribution of services?
Did the State party have any plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention? The Committee had been informed that after 2020, the State party had moved forcefully to improve early intervention and care. However, issues such as late referral to education and labour services persisted due to a lack of information by paediatricians. Was the delegation aware of these problems? Was there any response to remedy the situation?
There had been two unfortunate incidents by the Minister of Culture and the Minister of Environment who made derogatory comments about persons with disabilities. Coming from the highest echelons of Government, such comments may have a severely detrimental impact on the recognition of persons with disbalites as full human beings in the wider public discourse. Had the Government taken any measures to prevent the announcements of such public statements in the future?
Did the State party have any rules governing the accessibility of non-interoperable rules which did not fall under European Union rules pertaining to accessible transport? Accessible construction depended on the existence of technical standards. Were there plans to develop technical standards and adopt them?
Did the State party employ the Washington Group questions on disability when collecting its statistics? According to a study in 2026, the State party committed just 1.1 per cent of its bilateral applicable development assistance to programmes promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. What was the situation here and was there any plan to remedy this situation?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the amendment to the Constitution did not impact article 5. Courts were applying the Convention in Slovakia which aligned broad protection of freedoms and fundamental liberties. Persons with disabilities were guaranteed the same protection as everybody else, with the anti-discrimination legislation providing sufficient protection against discrimination in all areas of life.
Using the provisions as mother, father, woman and man within the Constitution still respected the rights of all persons, and Slovakia would abide by all international instruments, including the Convention in this respect.
Slovakia secured the participation of organizations of persons with disabilities and there was also an advisory body of the Government for persons with disabilities which met three times per year, discussing challenges to be solved and submitting different proposals. Over the last decade, persons with disabilities had assisted in drafting different materials, including legislation.
Slovakia supported umbrella organizations of persons with disabilities to ensure their membership in international organizations, if they had at least 50,000 members. Operation costs and rehabilitation were subsidised in these circumstances.
The anti-discrimination legislation was a general piece of legislation; it was the result of multilateral negotiations and there should be further pieces of application laws which were currently in the process of being prepared. The deadline for the formulation of these provisions was the end of 2026.
Providing social services was ensured by the public bodies at regional and state levels. When it came to the State budget, financial support was provided regardless of the geographical position of persons who were dependent. New capacity building funds of 76 million euros had been allocated. If a person was not able to pay a social service, they were free from the obligation to pay for such a service. A national project focused on marginalised Roma communities aimed to raise awareness of healthcare within the communities to ensure better healthcare. Any action resulting in discrimination based on disability was against the law and could be claimed before a court.
Since 2019, an important document was adopted, including a national strategy of equality between men and women and equal opportunity. This strategy also focused on women and girls with disabilities. Another plan on the prevention and elimination of violence 2022- 2027 aimed to form efficient systems to prevent and decrease violence perpetrated against women, with a focus on children and families. These documents would be translated into the national programme for persons with disabilities.
The State was focused on solving the issue of early intervention and had drafted strategy documents, including the national strategy on development of capacities. A working group had been formed and it was active in drafting different documents, including a plan focused on the trajectory of children with disabilities in early childhood. Currently, there were 45 early intervention services which could be accessed for children aged zero to seven years. In 2025, more than 2,300 hours of support and activities were provided, increasing the number of families who received assistance. An increased fund meant around 40,000 extra hours of assistance would be provided to families in need.
A document was issued in 2019 which outlined the information that primary paediatric doctors should check in children’s initial check-ups, including psycho motor capacities.
The Ministry of Culture had a subsidy system where different activities were earmarked for persons with disabilities.
State legislation stipulated that transport stations and stops should facilitate accessibility as much as possible. Barrier-free access needed to be provided at transport stops and accommodate persons with disabilities. There was also an allowance for transport which provided for taxi services.
Electronic permits had been introduced and by-laws had been drafted relating to the barrier free use of buildings. Currently in parliament, there was an amendment of the building act, which would likely come into effect in early 2027. The bylaw stipulated specific conditions for buildings where barrier free access was essential, including hospitals, schools, playgrounds, sports grounds and cultural institutions. All these and other buildings would have to abide by more specific conditions.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Ministry of Labour had a yearly report containing statistical data of persons with disabilities and data was used to inform the updating of social services. The State was in close collaboration with non-governmental organizations to implement community-focused projects internationally. For example, there were educational projects in Kenya where schools were being constructed for those who were vulnerable. Before any project could receive financial contributions, it needed to be screened via a committee.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said children with spina bifida and Down syndrome often received the majority of support from their families, and risked being isolated. What plans did the State have to address such situations?
Another Expert asked when the State party would establish a framework for women and girls with disabilities with clear targets and accountability mechanisms? How would women and girls with disabilities be closely consulted and actively involved in its development and implementation?
An Expert asked what measures were in place to address violence against women and girls with disabilities? What guarantees existed to ensure women with disabilities would not be subjected to forced sterilisation?
MARKUS SCHEFER, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked how persons with disabilities were ensured access to accessible housing?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said families with children with specific conditions were provided with assistance, including from social workers, to enrol these children in the educational system. If a child was born with a disability, specialists would come directly to the hospital to explain to parents what would happen when a child was back at home. A paper had been drafted which focused on case management and identified the individual needs of persons with disabilities.
Different campaigns were in place to prevent violence, including the national project campaign focusing on violence against women and awareness raising in this regard. Multidisciplinary coordination provided for interaction between police, members of the judiciary and others.
Victims of domestic violence were considered particularly vulnerable, and it was recognised that women and girls with disabilities could face additional barriers and required support consistent with their needs. The directive from the European Union provided the State with ways to strengthen tools and protections in this regard.
Questions by Committee Experts
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said she was honoured that the dialogue with Slovakia would be her last with a State party as her two terms with the Committee were concluding. Were there any measures being taken to establish mandatory, independent autopsies in cases of deaths in psychiatric care, as well as public reports of these deaths?
Despite recommendations from multiple treaty bodies to prohibit the use of physical and chemical restraints in psychiatric institutions, the Committee had received reports that restraints including net beds continued to be used in psychiatric hospitals for long periods of times. Persons with disabilities were mechanically restrained, including for eating and going to the toilet. What had been done to prohibit the use of restraints, isolation and seclusion in psychiatric institutions?
The Committee understood that Slovakia supported the revised version of the draft Optional Protocol of the Oviedo Convention; could the State explain its position on this?
There had been a case where it was found that the State had failed to prevent abuse of an individual in the psychiatric institute where she resided. What accommodations had been introduced to facilitate the effective role of persons with disabilities as participants in judicial and administrative proceedings? How was Slovakia addressing the high prevalence of violence in institutions for persons with disabilities? Were there mechanisms contained within the national strategy that recognised violence against women in institutional care?
Ms. Kayess acknowledged the work being done with the Roma women who had been forcibly sterilised. Was the same kind of work being done for women and girls with disabilities, including sterilisation procedures consented to by guardians? Were there any steps to prohibit unnecessary medical interventions performed on intersex children?
The Committee had received numerous reports about the extremely slow deinstitutionalisation process in Slovakia; it had heard that the risk of deinstitutionalisation was high due to insufficient personal care support, among other factors. What were the challenges and where was resistance coming from in terms of expediting deinstitutionalisation? How was work being coordinated with municipalities and regions to address concerns to facilitate deinstitutionalisation? Were public and European funds being used for the construction of institutional settings or were these funds being redirected to accessible housing and support services? What restrictions were there on persons with disabilities to access financial services such as banking?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said it would need to consult with colleagues to provide a response on deaths in psychiatric care.
Before 2022, legislation was passed which identified which aid could be used in which healthcare facility and was in harmony with international institutions in that area. Until the end of 2024, a person could have been placed in a net bed, but as of 2025, these net beds were forbidden. Providers of care were mandated to report which restraining aid was used to the Ministry of Health. Use of restraining aids was monitored. A methodology guidance had been issued and a register contained which aids were forbidden or could be used. There was also a guidance on the notification of the use of restraining aids. This legislation had come into effect since 1 January 2025.
In 2024, there were 211 net beds. The European Union plan on recovery and resolution allowed the State to build protective rooms to act as an alternative to these net beds. These rooms were used for patients with psychiatric disorders, for their own safety and the safety of other personnel. Another decree from the Ministry of Healthcare defined exactly what physical restraint meant, what seclusion meant, and which persons could assist medical personnel in using restraining aids. The aim was to introduce softer ways of sorting out difficult situations.
In October 2022, Slovakia’s Parliament passed legislation regarding the inspection of social affairs, falling under the wider care and protection of persons in institutional care. The general public could address this inspection in respect to the quality and critique provided and aimed to solve complaints.
The Institute of Informed Consent was stipulated in law and medical professionals were obliged to provide such consent. Sterilisation was defined in healthcare law as the removal of the sexual glands of the person. There should be an informed consent preceded by information about the patient. On the basis of a court decision, the informed consent should be provided in line with requirements stipulated by law. There was no information on sterilisations done without consent since 2024.
In 2021, a new strategy for deinstitutionalisation was adopted. Currently the State party was preparing strategic plans for deinstitutionalisation and a new action plan. The strategy would be proposed to the Government by the end of the year. The process was slow and that there was no timeframe for it. However, it was viewed as continuous and required a transformation of existing facilities as well as fieldwork and monitoring.
An allocation of 200 million euros had been designated for community services, and 179 projects had been covered on different social service facilities. Around 3,000 new places had been created at the community level. All the investments focused on social services at the community level. The State did not plan to support a high-capacity institution providing the care. There had been an expert discussion between the providers of social services and the recipients.
Questions by Committee Experts
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked if the State had met the Committee’s 2016 recommendations to ensure migration was accessible? She asked how persons with disabilities seeking asylum had their needs assessed? Were reception facilities accessible? How did persons with disabilities under temporary protection access support on an equal basis with residents? Did persons with disabilities have access to unemployment benefits? How was it ensured that persons with disabilities in detention received disability-specific support? Were organizations of persons with disabilities engaged in planning and protection mechanisms? How did the State ensure that all aids and assistive devices were available, affordable and of good quality?
A Committee Expert noted that as a country which produced motor vehicles, how many persons with disabilities had an adapted vehicle in Slovakia? Did the State provide a subsidy so they could acquire an appropriate vehicle? Were these vehicles appropriately exported? What was the situation regarding trains and buses? How did the private sector participate in the market of vehicles with accommodation?
Another Expert asked if deaf persons could take their driving license?
An Expert asked what measures would the Government adopt to ensure that any kind of deprivation of liberty on the grounds of disability did not occur? Were funds being used to build new psychiatric institutions? What measures would the State take to prohibit torture in law and define any acts of torture?
A Committee Expert said around 50 per cent of persons in specialised health establishments had their legal capacity removed. Could the delegation comment on this?
MARKUS SCHEFER, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said Slovakia had a sizeable refugee population, including many from Ukraine. How did the State party ensure proper assessment at the beginning of an asylum proceeding? How were the provisions of services then ensured?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Slovakia provided an individual approach to persons with disabilities thanks to a recent law. A national strategy had been adopted for asylum and migration management in 2025, with disability recognised as an aspect of vulnerability. The needs of the asylum applicant were always taken into account and necessary support was ensured throughout the proceedings. The health condition of each applicant was assessed and monitored throughout asylum proceedings. Applicants undertook a medical check-up, as well as a checkup for specific vulnerability measures. This informed the response in terms of specific needs in the detention centre such as housing, dietary needs and psychological support. The detention centre had a barrier free access entrance, and there were barrier-free access rooms and hygiene facilities. The detention centre also had barrier-free housing located on the floor level, designed for persons with disabilities.
If anyone believed their rights had been violated, they had the right to file a claim through a system, with dedicated State personnel dealing with these complaints. Trainings on assessment of vulnerability had been held in cooperation with the International Organization on Migration.
Social services were provided to non-citizens and third country nationals. During the emergency situation caused by the war in Ukraine, the State allowed displaced persons from Ukraine to receive housing in Slovakia for their whole family, as well as allowances.
Slovakia was the country which produced the highest number of vehicles per capita in the world; around one million. Under the compensation for persons with severe disabilities, an allowance was provided for the accommodation of motor vehicles. Allowances could also be provided for persons with disabilities to purchase a personal vehicle with a system allowing for a wheelchair to be raised, or other elements which could be used for persons with disabilities. There were quotas requiring a certain percentage of public transport vehicles to be accessible, with this figure sitting at one hundred per cent in rural areas. For vessel transport, there was an obligation to have an incoming ramp for persons with disabilities.
If the court decided to establish a guardian, they specified to which level the legal capacity of the person was restrained. The responsibilities of the guardian would be checked, controlled and monitored and they were placed under a system of notification. There would also be submitted proposals to remove the guardianship.
Under Slovakian law, no one could be subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment, and the crime of torture was criminalised, with aggravating circumstances if the perpetrator was a public official. Funding went to community-based programmes and was not used to build psychiatric hospitals.
Upon reception, an asylum seeker, including those with disabilities, went through a medical checkup and assessment of their individual needs. Services were adapted to the individual needs of each person. Displaced persons from Ukraine were entitled to apply for humanitarian aid for persons with disabilities. A person could also apply for assistive devices. A housing allowance was also provided for independent housing for asylum seekers with disabilities.
Questions by Committee Experts
NATALIA GUALA, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked what measures were in place to avoid persons with disabilities being discriminated against due to artificial intelligence? What measures had been established by the State to guarantee privacy for persons with disabilities living in institutions? Were there oversight mechanisms for persons with disabilities living in institutions?
Did the State party have a roadmap to transition towards inclusive education for children with disabilities? Why did the State continue to invest in building segregated or “special” schools in the country? Could mainstream schools deny the admission of a student with a disability? If that was the case, what was the State doing to change this situation? What supervisory measures were in place to ensure that no school would deny access to a student with a disability on the grounds of disability? What support was provided to students with disabilities? Was there any kind of plan or roadmap to ensure the ability of rehabilitation in the community? What was the timeframe guaranteed for that plan?
In light of the tax reform underway in the country, would the disability benefit be maintained? What plans were in place to increase the disability benefit for those living under the poverty line?
A Committee Expert said there was a lack of sign language interpreters in the State party as well as interpreters and training programmes. Could information on this be provided?
An Expert asked how the State party reconciled section 12 of the family act, which restricted persons with disabilities from exercising the right to marry based on legal capacity or mental disorder, with the rights enshrined in the Convention? How many marriages had been declared invalid by the courts? Why were medically indicated contraceptive methods not included in public health insurance?
A Committee Expert asked what would be done to take sheltered workshops from segregated settings and bring them into the open labour market? How did the State plan to enforce the employment of persons with disabilities in the open labour market?
An Expert asked when the State party would repeal unacceptable restrictions on the right to stand for election, in full compliance with the Convention?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said persons with disabilities, including deaf people, could receive their driver’s license in Slovakia. Civil services were being made more accessible for those with hearing disabilities. As of today, there were 23 interpreters in the State party.
Provisions in the family act dealing with incapacity decisions had been annulled. The new amendment to the act did not include those texts. An implementation act had been prepared which affected the family act and would eliminate the provisions concerning legal capacity decisions.
Recipients of social services could freely use available communication means and were guaranteed the right to private communication. They could communicate in the language of their choice and were provided with the possibility to express their needs.
Slovakia was not building additional special schools. The number of pupils involved in inclusive mainstream education was constantly rising. Schools for pupils with health impairments were constantly decreasing. The best interests of the child were taken into account at all times. Since 2023, Slovakia had adopted new professional standards for counselling services making assessments and diagnostics of children; 2,500 children had already been tested this year, with the aim to select those who had not been placed correctly and transition them into mainstream education.
A system of individualised support had been created for pupils when they required it. Centres were available for the support of students with disabilities. High quality centres were available across the country, which cooperated with students with disabilities to design new aids to help those students. New documents were being developed in the field of digitalisation.
The right to health care was based on the principle of non-discrimination, meaning women and girls with disabilities had the same rights to gynaecology as other women and girls. There were more than 380 types of hormonal contraception, and more than 10 products for local contraceptives.
Slovakia had a clear definition of social rehabilitation, allowing a person to maintain maximum independence. This expert activity needed to be provided by a social rehabilitation specialist.
An allowance was provided to employers in the sheltered market and the open market for employing persons with disabilities. The primary aim of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family was to increase the employment of persons with disabilities on the open labour market. Since 2016, following the Committee’s recommendations, Slovakia had managed to decrease the number of persons employed in sheltered workshops by 39 per cent, with 50 per cent of those being persons with disabilities.
Compensation allowances were provided to persons earning under the subsentence minimum. Once the person achieved five times this amount, the benefit was then decreased.
Personnel were trained to teach mothers, including mothers with disabilities, how to start breast feeding. The child was put on the mother’s breast as soon as possible. The National Centre of Healthcare Information provided statistical data on mother and child mortality.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked if there were up to date sign language dictionaries? Was there a code of ethics for interpreters of sign language? Could more information be provided about the health of mothers and children who had disabilities? Did women with disabilities have the option to give birth naturally? What kind of information was provided in maternity clinics for deaf women? Were there any statistics on GDP for accessible tourism?
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked who held the coordinating role on the Convention and disability projects?
An Expert asked how the State party ensured there was training of medical practitioners to handle the cases of persons with disabilities when they came to hospitals?
A Committee Expert asked if persons living in institutions had the right to vote?
NATALIA GUALA, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked what measures were taken to prevent redundancies in the open labour market due to an acquired disability?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said a coordination point for disability sat within every ministry. Healthcare ethics were included in the healthcare training curriculum. For doctors, there were minimum standards for different study programmes in different fields concerning persons with disabilities. The approach to education of persons with disabilities was covered throughout the professional life of medical staff. The curriculum for different medical professions was constantly being revised.
Persons in institutions were assisted to vote by official workers and were assured confidentiality in their ballots.
Employers were given an allowance to retain a person with a disability in a position. Employers could request support from the State if they wished to carry out changes at work to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including the provision of technical equipment.
Closing Statements
FEDOR ROSOCHA, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, expressed sincere appreciation for the opportunity to engage in the constructive dialogue. While Slovakia remained committed to building on the progress made to date, the State was mindful that challenges persisted and that there was still room for improvement in the future. Slovakia remained determined to continue strengthening policies, legislation and practical measures, bringing the country closer to the full realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.
NATALIA GUALA, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, thanked the State party for its presence and attitude throughout the review process, and commended the involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities from Slovakia. The State party should continue harmonising its laws with the Convention and adopt measures which would allow the exercise of the full human rights of persons with disabilities. The State needed to do away with substituted decision making and limits on the legal capacity of persons with disabilities, and prioritise deinstitutionalisation. The Committee stood ready to support the State party in its goals to working towards a fairer and more equal society.
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