STATEMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION
8 APRIL 2025
April 8 is International Roma Day. Roma men and women in Slovakia are still fighting for their human rights, dignity, and equality. They face discrimination, racism and prejudice. Slovakia’s human rights debt to Roma men and women is one of the largest and most ignored.
What was supposed to long be in the past is still a reality in 2025 – systemic segregation of Roma children in the Slovak education system. Every day, tens of thousands of children are excluded from equal education solely because of their origin. Their place is not in any special schools, classes, or „purely“ Roma schools – their place is among all children.
The segregation of Roma children in Slovakia is shamefully ignored, tolerated, and supported by the state. This system violates Slovakia’s international human rights obligations and deepens generational poverty. It is a form of discrimination that leaves lasting consequences: it destroys a dignified life and denies a dignified future to the most vulnerable – children.
Segregation has always been the evidence of the state’s shameful failure. And Slovakia is failing miserably, with the highest proportion of Roma children in separate classes or purely Roma schools among the EU countries. The European Commission has been warning about the failure to address the segregation of Roma students since 2015. Moreover, in 2023, Slovakia became the first country against which the Commission filed a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice for violating the Racial Equality Directive.
Segregation does not arise on its own – it´s a consequence of specific decisions and inaction – it´s a political choice. And Slovakia has the power to end it. It should have started decades ago, but starting today is the best available option.
Human Rights Coalition member organizations therefore call on the Slovak government to stop making empty promises and false gestures and to start working immediately in the best interests of Roma children – to implement real and comprehensive desegregation solutions in accordance with human rights.
