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2004 Press Releases

Annual Human Rights Report Available Via Internet

Bratislava, February 26, 2004

The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for the year 2003, released February 25 in Washington, are available on the U.S. State Department website, http://www.state.gov. Direct links to the reports on the Slovak Republic, neighboring countries and other countries of interest, as well as background information about the Human Rights Report itself, are currently available on the home page of the U.S. Embassy website, http://www.usembassy.sk.

"These reports inform decision-makers in the United States Congress about the human rights record across the globe," explained Scott N. Thayer, charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava.

The description of Slovakia from 2002-2003 covers a number of different areas, including the role of the police and minority relations.

"Slovakia has made great strides to qualify for membership in NATO and the EU," Mr. Thayer noted. "Overall, as with preceding years, several improvements were noted in anti-corruption efforts and law enforcement. However, there is still more to be done. Delays in the administration of justice and allegations of impropriety persist."

The report emphasized several points regarding minorities, primarily the Roma:

  • Discrimination against minorities, particularly Roma, continued in the spheres of education, health care, and employment.
  • Members of the Romani minority were victims of societal violence, and frequently were unable to seek adequate redress through the justice system. The police have improved their monitoring activities concerning racially motivated crimes, but perpetrators are often not adequately punished.
  • Some individuals in the public sphere, such as politicians and members of the armed forces, continued to use hate speech and did not portray the Roma minority in a balanced manner in public statements.

The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are mandated by the U.S. Congress. The reports include individual assessments of 196 countries and, according to the introduction, "are designed to assess the state of democracy and human rights around the world, call attention to violations, and . . . prompt needed changes in [U.S.] policies toward particular countries."

The introduction to the reports cites intensified efforts by the United States to address human rights issues throughout the world, and notes new programs designed to assist in the promotion of human rights.