Human Rights Developments

Defending Human Rights

The Role of the International Community

Role of the International Community

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

The international community roundly criticized Slovakia for its human rights record in 1998. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which had a permanent election observer mission in Slovakia, expressed serious concerns over the pre-election situation, especially the new election law, and the OSCE’s Representative on Freedom of the Media criticized restrictions on electronic and local media. The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities remained engaged on minority issues including education and language rights.

European Union and Council of Europe

Slovakia’s record on human rights and democratization caused it to be put in the second tier of countries applying for E.U. accession; in its Preliminary Accession document with Slovakia, the E.U. stated that the current government did not sufficiently respect the powers devolved by the constitution to other bodies or the rights of the opposition. After the September election, however, the E.U. indicated that Slovakia might return to “fast track” status for membership by 1999, if promised reforms were enacted. The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly continued its monitoring procedure for Slovakia, and rapporteurs conducted an assessment mission in June.

United Nations

In June, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women issued its conclusions on Slovakia’s initial report and noted numerous problems including domestic violence and the under representation of women in government positions.

United States

In a letter to Prime Minister Meciar, the U.S. government’s Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) also raised concerns about the failure of parliament to elect a president and Prime Minister Meciar’s cancellation of the referendum.