STATEMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION
7 MARCH 2025
International Women’s Day is a reminder that Slovakia urgently needs systemic solutions to protect the rights of women and girls. Gender-based and sexual violence remain widespread, yet the state has failed to implement long-prepared reforms, such as a legal definition of rape based on lack of consent. Women also continue to face barriers in accessing housing, healthcare, and reproductive rights, with Slovakia among the worst-ranked countries in Europe for access to safe abortion services. These restrictions push many into poverty and unsafe conditions, denying them control over their own bodies and lives.
Marginalized groups are especially vulnerable. Roma women continue to experience segregation in hospitals and await justice for unlawful sterilizations, while LGBTI+ women, particularly trans women, face discrimination, hostile political rhetoric, and lack of legal protections for family life. Single mothers and families with children are among those most affected by housing insecurity, with inadequate government support and the constant threat of child removal due to poverty.
Human rights organizations call on the Slovak government to take responsibility, strengthen legal protections, and ensure equal access to healthcare, housing, education, and safety. Real equality means guaranteeing that all women and girls—regardless of origin, identity, or background—can live lives of dignity, security, and respect.
