Slovakia (Oct 2019) - Article 33

1 - WILLINGNESS TO APPLY THE CRPD.
Do you feel that the political and administrative authorities of your country are strongly committed to/involved in fully implementing the CRPD?

In spite of the fact that UNCRPD is in force for Slovakia from 25 June 2010 the focal point was created only in March 2013 and independent mechanism for monitoring of UNCRPD implementation has still not been established. But the proposal of Act about commissioner for protection of fight of people with disabilities is in legislative process with proposed put in force from Jul 2015.The first report to the UN committee for rights of disabled persons was submitted in June 2012 and the National program for development of living conditions of people with disabilities which might be recognized as the action plan for implementation of the UNCRPD was approved by Government in January 2014.

2 - FOCAL POINTS.
Have the focal points (i.e. points of contact) provided for in article 33-1 of the CRPD been designated in your country?

The focal point was established on March 15, 2013 at the Ministry of Labour, social Affairs and Family. It has two employees. At all relevant ministries there were appointed one person serving as a secondary focal point.

3 - ROLE.

What is, or will be, their role?

  • to serve as focal point for public administration and civic society,
  • to disseminate ideas and values of the UNCRPD,
  • to collect statistical data about people with disabilities,
  • to coordinate ministries, government, regional, and local authorities,
  • implementation of the National program for development of living conditions of people with disabilities, 
  • analysis of conformity of the national legislation and practise with UNCRPD,
  • to suggest changes of national legislation and assessment of legislative proposal with respect to the UNCRPD, 
  • cooperation with national and international organizations of people with disabilities,
  • to coordinate preparation of monitoring reports for UN committee for rights of people with disabilities,
  • cooperation with EU, EC and other international institutions.

4 - COORDINATION OF ACTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRDP AND FOCAL POINTS.
How are the focal points and the actions for the CRPD's implementation coordinated?

The coordination is not sufficiently developed yet. The focal point coordinates secondary focal points at relevant ministries. Some coordination activities are provided by the Committee for Disabled persons which is an expert body of the Government Council for human rights, national minorities and gender equality.

5 - PROMOTION OF THE CRPD.
How does your country go about promoting the CRPD?

The main tool for promoting UNCRPD is the National program for development of living conditions of people with disabilities for years 2014 – 2020 contains many tasks corresponding to the UNCRPD implementation.

6 - PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS INCLUDED IN THE CRPD.
Which national authority is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of the rights included in the CRPD?

There is still continuing discussion about main institution responsible.

7 - MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRPD.
In your country, which authority is in charge of monitoring the implementation of the CRPD?

The monitoring authority is not yet officially established. Some monitoring is done by the focal point, by the Slovak national centre for human rights and by the Committee for persons with disabilities (which is an expert body of the Government Council for human rights, national minorities and gender equality).

8 - ROLE OF ASSOCIATIONS OF BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS. How are the associations of blind or visually impaired persons involved in the implementation of the CRPD?

There is only one organization of visually impaired in the Slovak republic – Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union (UNSS – Unia nevidiacich a slabozrakych Slovenska). It is consulted by state and public authorities. It also participates through occasional projects and based on their own initiatives. There is no special support for those activities.

9 - ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
Have any additional resources (human or financial) been been made available for the implementation of the CRPD?

No special resources are available.

10 - CRPD IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING REPORT.
Depending on the date on which your country ratified the CRPD, is it required to submit a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? If it is, has it done so?

Yes, in June 2012

11 - SHADOW REPORT.
Have the associations of persons with disabilities presented the so-called shadow report?

No

12 - COMMENTS.

Do you have any comments on the implementation of the CRPD in your country?

There is no special support for disability organisation to participate on monitoring. There is preparation work for the establishment of an independent institution for the promotion and protection of the rights of people with disabilities (the preparation of Act mentioned in the answer to the question no. 1 - like ombudsman).

Update and Additional research notes 2019: (Sarah Woodin)

The Independent mechanism, the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, was established through an Act in 2015 and office began functioning in 2016. Since this time the office has dealt with over 600 cases related wo a wide range of issues.

There seem to be few opportunities for disabled people to take part in monitoring of the Convention. The shadow report (2019) notes an absence of opportunities and the 2019 Concluding Observations note the: “absence of frameworks for meaningful participation of persons with disabilities through their representative organizations with respect to the development and implementation of legislation and policies concerning persons with disabilities”. Underpinning this, the committee recommends the adoption of a human rights approach, which appears to be missing in national policies.