Experts on racial discrimination and intolerance

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in cooperation with the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights organised a round table in Bratislava. The event was aimed at looking for ways to implement the recommendation of this institution of the Council of Europe. Various participants in the round table agreed that no significant changes for the better had been made in terms of Slovakia's fight against racial discrimination and intolerance since the recommendations were issued in 2014. In its report from 2014, the ECRI expressed concerns about several areas, including shortcomings in criminal legislation regarding racially motivated crimes, anti-discrimination law, the integration of the Roma and LGBTI communities as well as the poor competencies of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights. ECRI chairman Christian Ahlund told the round table participants that these comments should not be viewed as criticism or judgement, but as recommendations that the member states of the Council of Europe will accept and try to observe. Ahlund stated that some issues, such as populism and the discriminative rhetoric of politicians, are still present in Slovakia. "Unfortunately, the populist wave that hit Europe hasn't avoided your country either," said the ECRI chairman.