Amnesty International says that constitutional amendments adopted in Slovakia in 2025 have weakened the country’s international human rights commitments, deepened discrimination against LGBTQI people, and restricted rights such as education and respect for private and family life. In its annual report, the organization also criticizes stricter rules imposed on non-governmental organizations and ongoing systemic discrimination against Roma communities, particularly in education and housing. According to the Slovak parliament, the amendments defined two sexes—male and female—and introduced changes to adoption rules and education, while also emphasizing national sovereignty in cultural and ethical issues.
The organization argues that these constitutional changes are not in line with Slovakia’s international obligations and form part of a broader shift toward authoritarian practices. It also points to a controversial NGO law later ruled unconstitutional by the Slovak Constitutional Court, saying it undermined freedom of association and information, while NGOs critical of the government faced “defamation, threats, and intimidation.” Amnesty further highlights a European Court of Human Rights ruling in February that found Slovakia violated the rights of a Roma child placed in a special class, reinforcing concerns about discrimination in education and housing.
Beyond Slovakia, Amnesty reports ongoing systemic discrimination against Roma communities, including limited access to adequate housing and forced short-term rental agreements that deepen segregation. It also criticizes Slovakia’s lack of transparency regarding arms deliveries to Israel, slow progress in transitioning to renewable energy, and planned welfare reforms that could reduce benefits for unemployed people refusing job offers. The organization additionally calls for investigations into alleged racist motives in police violence against Roma in Veľká Ida.
On a global scale, Amnesty warns of what it describes as a deepening human rights crisis, saying the “international rules-based order” is under sustained attack by major powers. In its report, it states that leaders such as “(Donald) Trump, (Vladimir) Putin and (Benjamin) Netanyahu” have pursued dominance through widespread destruction and violence. The organization describes the emergence of a “predatory alternative world order” that suppresses dissent, encourages hate crimes, and normalizes authoritarian practices, with Trump’s policies portrayed as a “catalyst” for global deterioration. It also concludes that in 2025, most governments chose “appeasement” rather than resisting these trends, including many European states.
Source: TASR
