Court delays the most common human right violations in Slovakia

The right to have legal matters deliberated without needless delays is the most often violated right in Slovakia, states the Public Ombudswoman Maria Patakyová's annual report submitted to the Parliament. According to her data, it makes up almost one-third of all 2017 human rights violations. "It follows from our findings that needless delays in court processes are a pressing problem... In some cases, the situation is critical and if no remedy is passed, the processes might be lengthened by another 40 years," said Patakyová, who proposed several systemic measures to address the deficiencies. A number of complaints addressed to the Public Ombudswoman's Office often decry inadequate activity on part of the Labour, Social Affairs and Family offices in the sphere of children legal protection in cases when children suffer due to conflicts between their parents. An inappropriate use of force, detaining individuals in humiliating premises instead of regular police cells as well as disproportionate police crackdowns are not acceptable police procedures, yet they were employed in 2017 regardless, reads the report. It is the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment that the Ombudswoman has been recommending the adoption of in order to address the issue. Currently passed by 83 world countries, Slovakia along with Latvia are among the last EU countries not to have done so. Aside from adopting the Optional Protocol, the Ombudswoman also pointed out the need to set up an independent supervisory body over police activities.