SLOVAKIA lags behind in the implementation of legislative and other measures to eliminate racial discrimination. Such is the opinion of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), voiced in its regular report which the Slovak cabinet passed at its October 30 session, the TASR newswire reported.
The Committee reported that it remains concerned by the increase in expressions of hatred directed mainly against Roma, the Hungarian minority and foreign nationals in the media and on the Internet, including social networking websites, as well as in sports. This stems from the report on negotiating the ninth and 10th non-periodical report of Slovakia on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination before the UN Committee.
Although the Committee acknowledged all the legislative measures adopted to support languages of ethnic minorities in radio and television broadcasts, it believes that further steps are necessary. The SITA newswire quoted the Committee as recommending that Slovakia identify individuals or groups inciting racial hatred against minorities and foreigners, and to investigate and sanction politicians, government representatives and media staffers for expressions of hatred.
The report covers the period between 2009 and 2012.
Source: TASR, SITA
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports
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