Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations Office at Geneva<\/span>, said that in addition to the Constitution, the prohibition of discrimination was extensively covered by the so-called Anti-Discrimination Act, which had been adopted in 2004.\u00a0 Discrimination was prohibited on the grounds of sex, religion or belief, race, nationality or ethnic origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital and family status, colour, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, and whistleblowing.\u00a0 According to the Anti-Discrimination Act, gender discrimination also referred to discrimination on grounds of pregnancy or maternity, as well as on grounds of sexual or gender identification.\u00a0 The Government had adopted the evaluation of the implementation of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality 2010-2013, and proclaimed the creation of the National Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan for Gender Equality 2014-2019.\u00a0 Their specific activities and measures had been prepared and discussed in cooperation with non-governmental organizations and the Government Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality.\u00a0 The measures proposed concerned six areas:\u00a0 economic empowerment and independence, decision-making, education, dignity, institutional mechanisms, and international cooperation.\u00a0 The strategy and the related action plan stemmed from the basic strategic documents of the European Union and the Council of Europe.<\/p>\nSince 2010 the agenda of gender equality had been discussed and covered in the framework of the Committee of the National Council for Human Rights and National Minorities of Parliament.\u00a0 In 2011 the reconstruction process of the constructive bodies had resulted in the creation of a new institutional mechanism \u2013 the Governmental Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality.\u00a0 That body was a permanent professional, advisory, coordinating and consultative body of the Government responsible for promoting the principle of equal treatment and equality, including gender equality.\u00a0 The Council consisted of several specific committees.\u00a0 In September 2012, Parliament had approved the bill amending and supplementing the Act on the Organization of the Activity of the Government and on the Organization of the Central State Administration, whereby the gender equality and equal opportunities agenda had become the competence of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family.\u00a0 Since then the Department of Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities had been responsible for the coordination of national policy in the area and it had ensured the cross-departmental implementation of gender equality within the Ministry and beyond.<\/p>\n
The Government had adopted the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Women for the period 2014-2019.\u00a0 One of the crucial projects was the establishment of the Coordination Methodological Centre for the Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, in accordance with Article 10 of the Istanbul Convention.\u00a0 The Centre had officially been established in April 2015.\u00a0 A team of experts was responsible for the scientific coordination and supervision of the implementation of the system of prevention and intervention, victim support and services.\u00a0 Training for law enforcement agencies, including police officers, investigators, prosecutors, judges and health care professionals on gender-based and domestic violence represented one of the key activities of the Centre.\u00a0 The Centre would also provide analysis of the current legislation on violence against women and domestic violence.\u00a0 The Ministry of Labour had launched the project entitled \u201cFamily and Work\u201d in 2015, using affirmative action to support the employment of mothers of young children, which remained far below the employment of men in the same age group.\u00a0 The Ministry of Labour supported the employment of mothers of pre-school children by reimbursing 90 per cent of the total labour costs (salary plus social and health insurance) when a mother was employed on a newly created working place with flexible working arrangements.\u00a0 The Ministry also provided for the establishment of flexible child care facilities.\u00a0 In order to prevent uninformed health choices and procedures of Roma women, as well as women from poor communities, the Ministry of Health implemented the project \u201cHealthy Communities,\u201d financed from European Union structural funds.\u00a0 Some 190 health workers monitored segregated Roma settlements and localities, ensuring an elementary health education in 259 such settlements.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>
\nQuestions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nAn Expert observed that the Anti-Discrimination Act did not seem to cover all the grounds for discrimination under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. \u00a0Could the delegation elaborate on the\u00a0application of the Convention<\/span>in Slovakia\u2019s jurisprudence?\u00a0 Statistical data provided highlighted scarce activity in the area of gender equality.\u00a0 What kinds of measures were being taken in that respect?<\/p>\nAs for\u00a0access to justice<\/span>, Slovakian courts remained reluctant to provide financial compensation to victims of discrimination and tended to downplay the seriousness of discrimination, especially its impact on human dignity.\u00a0 \u00a0What measures were being taken to offset that trend, particularly in the case of rural women?\u00a0 What measures were being taken to fully implement the Gender Equality Strategy?\u00a0 What specific support did the Centre for Human Rights provide to women to access justice?
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\nThe Anti-Discrimination Act applied to social services, employment, health, education and other areas defined by the Constitution.\u00a0 There were difficulties with its implementation in court due to the fact that it was fairly new legislation.\u00a0 The Ministry of Justice had pledged to reform the Centre and provide better funding for it.\u00a0 The Government planned to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act in 2016, and it would address the fact that courts did not grant financial compensation to victims of discrimination.\u00a0 The new Code of Civil Procedure, coming into effect in the summer of 2016, was supposed to shorten the length of procedures. \u00a0A new Action Plan against All Forms of Discrimination would focus on education, institutional support, training in ministries and courts, and data collection.\u00a0 That plan would further strengthen the institutional framework to combat discrimination.\u00a0 The Legal Aid Centre provided legal assistance to vulnerable women, especially to Roma women.<\/p>\nIn Slovakia it was more common to refer to domestic anti-discrimination legislation than the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.\u00a0 However, arguments did rely on the recommendations made by the Committee.\u00a0 There was a wide complaint mechanism, involving various inspectorates, in addition to the Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality.\u00a0 There was also a possibility of filing a complaint with the Public Defender of Rights.\u00a0 The last Eurobarometer showed that gender discrimination was not the most common form of discrimination in Slovakia.\u00a0 There were more cases of discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity.\u00a0 By using European Union structural funds, Slovakia could enhance the application of anti-discrimination legislation in its jurisprudence.
\n<\/strong>
\nFollow-up Questions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nAn Expert stated that it could not be argued that gender equality in Slovakia existed, which was precisely why the Anti-Discrimination Act was not sufficient.\u00a0 Where was the political will to implement the principle of equality?<\/p>\n
Inter-sectional discrimination<\/span>\u00a0remained a big issue in Slovakia and gender figured in it to a great extent.\u00a0 Did the Slovak\u00a0National Centre for Human Rights<\/span>\u00a0issue periodic reports on women\u2019s rights?\u00a0 Was the Centre for Human Rights in line with the Paris Principles?\u00a0 Did this have anything to do with the extent of its independence?\u00a0 How was its budget negotiated and was there a procedure to ensure the complete political independence of the staff?<\/p>\nAs for\u00a0discrimination against Roma women<\/span>, they suffered multiple discrimination on grounds of gender and ethnicity.\u00a0 Discrimination against Roma was a huge issue in Slovakia.\u00a0 What was being done to eradicate it?
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nMediation was not applied in cases of violence against women and domestic violence.\u00a0Intersectional discrimination<\/span>\u00a0indeed existed in Slovakia.\u00a0 Very particular groups of women, such as Roma, single women and women with disabilities, experienced multiple forms of discrimination.\u00a0 \u00a0The Government was preparing new projects focusing on those vulnerable groups.<\/p>\nThe Act on the\u00a0National Centre for Human Rights<\/span>\u00a0obliged courts and institutions to provide the Council with information on human rights and equal treatment.\u00a0 The Council had status B.\u00a0 Its budget was semi-fixed and it depended on donations from the Ministry of Finance.\u00a0 The Managing Board of the Centre had nine members from the Government administration, university and civil society sector.\u00a0 Thus, it was difficult to completely limit the political influence of that body.<\/p>\nRegarding the\u00a0multiple discrimination of Roma women<\/span>, in 2012 the National Roma Integration Strategy had been adopted, along with the Action Plan 2011-2015.\u00a0 The Action Plan partially solved the issue of multiple discrimination against Roma women.\u00a0 It focused on access to education, employment, housing and health.\u00a0 There was also a commitment to prepare a plan for cross-cutting areas and non-discrimination.<\/p>\nQuestions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nWhat was the role of the new Department of Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities within the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, and of the Committee on Gender Equality in promoting gender equality?\u00a0 Which institutional authority would be in charge of that task?<\/p>\n
As for\u00a0temporary special measures<\/span>, the Committee had recommended to Slovakia to use those measures to achieve gender equality in all the fields and to sensitize political parties and the general public on the importance of those measures.\u00a0 However, the application of the Anti-Discrimination Act did not cover all areas of the Convention.\u00a0\u00a0 In certain areas the affirmative measures did not correspond to the temporary special measures under the Convention and did not necessary contribute to substantive equality between men and women.\u00a0 Was there a concrete strategy to expand those measures to all areas under the Convention?\u00a0 Did the State party evaluate the impact of such measures on the de facto equality of men and women? \u00a0There were no legal measures to promote equal representation of women in political life.\u00a0 Did the State party foresee to introduce temporary measures in political representation of women?
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\nThe\u00a0Department of Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities<\/span>\u00a0was established in 1999.\u00a0 In 2012 it was assigned to the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family.\u00a0 However, its competence remained cross-cutting.\u00a0 There was a close connection between the Department and the Committee on Gender Equality, which was part of the Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality.\u00a0 The Committee on Gender Equality had 16 members, half of whom were from civil society.\u00a0 Any complaint on gender issues was dealt with by the Department of Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities.\u00a0 The Department had organized several roundtables to clarify the concepts of gender equality, against the backdrop of a backlash against gender equality, which was led mostly by Christian based organizations.<\/p>\nThe scope of the Anti-Discrimination Act was already bigger than in many European countries so there were no plans to enlarge it.\u00a0 As for the\u00a0temporary special measures<\/span>, it was possible for the State party to adopt them directly based on the Convention.
\n<\/strong>
\nFollow-up Questions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nClear and strong political will for gender equality should transform the situation in Slovakia.\u00a0 \u00a0Why were there decreased transfers of the budget to non-governmental organizations?\u00a0 An Expert observed that there had been no clear statement by the Government that citizens\u2019 platforms against gender equality in fact limited women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n
What was the scope of\u00a0temporary special measures<\/span>\u00a0and their diversity?\u00a0 In spite of the fact that the Convention was above national legislation, the best way to promote it was to transpose its provisions into national legislation.<\/p>\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\nIt was clarified that temporary special measures could be adopted in a number of areas and they could focus on eliminating social and economic disadvantages, and on creating equality in terms of access to basic services. \u00a0Such measures had to be proportionate and necessary to achieve the stated goal.\u00a0 Actors who could adopt them were all public institutions, as well as civil society and commercial companies.\u00a0 There were currently no plans to adopt quotas for female participation in political life, as they were controversial in Slovakia.<\/p>\nIt was not usual for the Government to comment on civil society initiatives, such as the \u201cMarch for Life\u201d held in 2013 and 2015.\u00a0\u00a0 The best way to respond to attacks on gender equality was through the adoption of various gender equality strategies and action plans.<\/p>\n
Questions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nWhat were the results of roundtables and training sessions held with respect to gender equality?\u00a0 Were\u00a0social attitudes and understanding<\/span>\u00a0related to gender equality changing?\u00a0 Only one third of the population thought that there was gender discrimination in the country.\u00a0 Was there an understanding of what the concept of equality meant?<\/p>\nAs for\u00a0violence against women<\/span>, how many shelters existed and was there any training for the judiciary?\u00a0 Was the inherent link between gender equality and violence against women stressed in training sessions?\u00a0 Did the policy ascribe to a gender neutral notion of domestic violence, or did it stress the gender-based component?<\/p>\nRegarding\u00a0trafficking of women and girls<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0sexual exploitation<\/span>, the statistical data provided by the State party was not precise.\u00a0 What concrete results were achieved through the national anti-trafficking programmes?\u00a0 There was a lack of disaggregated data on victims of trafficking.\u00a0 What kind of analysis was carried out?\u00a0 Were there shelters available for victims of trafficking, and was there any budget support from the State?\u00a0 Roma women were particularly vulnerable to trafficking.\u00a0 What kinds of measures were being developed to protect them? \u00a0Prostitution<\/span>\u00a0was considered immoral, yet, it was not criminalized.\u00a0 What was being done to decrease the demand for prostitution?
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\nRegarding combatting negative\u00a0gender stereotypes<\/span>, there had been changes in social attitudes.\u00a0 Ten years ago more than half of the population in Slovakia believed that the family suffered if the woman worked.\u00a0 Today, about a third of the population held that view.\u00a0 \u00a0The \u201cmale breadwinner\u201d model of the family was ideal for only 10 per cent of Slovak citizens.\u00a0 Some men were taking parental leave.<\/p>\nThe Government had elaborated a legal proposal on\u00a0gender-based violence<\/span>\u00a0in order to define violence against women in line with the Istanbul Convention.\u00a0 The guidelines provided by the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women were strictly followed in the development of gender equality policies and measures. \u00a0Under law, the second act of domestic violence by the same perpetrator would be prosecuted as a criminal act.\u00a0 The National Action Plan on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence 2014-2019 aimed to strengthen prevention and intervention, victim support services, and training for police, investigators, prosecutors, judges and health professionals.\u00a0 The number of women who wished to resolve their situation had doubled, according to the helpline information.\u00a0 Seven new shelters for victims of violence would open by the end of 2016.<\/p>\nThe Programme for the Support and Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings was financed by the Government.\u00a0\u00a0Trafficking of women<\/span>\u00a0was considered part of violence against women.\u00a0 Victims came mostly from the Ko\u0161ice region and from marginalized Roma communities.\u00a0 Projects were implemented to improve awareness in socially excluded Roma communities, as well as to elaborate methodological guidelines for the identification of victims in Roma communities.\u00a0 A national helpline for victims of trafficking had been established.
\n<\/strong>
\nFollow-up Questions by Experts<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\nThere was some information on\u00a0hate crimes against Roma and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women<\/span>, as well as on hate discourse made by police, politicians and media.\u00a0 How were such crimes addressed?\u00a0 An Expert urged the State party to keep the reference to women in the title of the national strategy for the elimination of gender-based violence.<\/p>\nHow did the\u00a0anti-trafficking system<\/span>\u00a0work in general?\u00a0 Who monitored the implementation of the anti-trafficking programme?\u00a0 There was no response onprostitution<\/span>.\u00a0 Who was the typical prostitute in Slovakia?
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nProstitution<\/span>\u00a0was not criminalized, whereas pimping was.\u00a0 There were some non-governmental organizations working on the issue of prostitution and could perhaps provide more information on a typical prostitute in Slovakia.<\/p>\nAs for\u00a0hate speech<\/span>\u00a0against Roma and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, continuous training sessions for police officers were held, in cooperation with the Council of Europe.
\n<\/strong>
\nQuestions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nThe stagnation in the\u00a0political representation of women<\/span>\u00a0was worrying.\u00a0 There were no women in the current Government, and women made up only 16 per cent of members of Parliament.\u00a0 Was there contemplation of introducing at least incentives for political parties?\u00a0 There was some improvement in female representation on boards.\u00a0 No woman had ever led a self-governing region.\u00a0 \u00a0What was the breakdown of female participation in the judiciary?\u00a0 What could be done to represent Roma women?\u00a0 Why was it that out of 45 per cent of women in diplomatic posts at home, only 11 per cent were in diplomatic missions abroad?<\/p>\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nRegarding the\u00a0political participation of women<\/span>, the delegation noted that this was still a challenge.\u00a0 However, there were several campaigns encouraging women to participate and urging political parties to put women on their electoral lists.\u00a0 Political participation of Slovak women at the European level was encouraging and it stood at approximately 38 per cent. \u00a0At the local level there were positive developments in the number of independent female candidates.\u00a0 Women opted to join civil society organizations rather than political parties.\u00a0 Women outnumbered men in the positions within the Government related to family affairs.\u00a0 There were male politicians who were much more sensitive to gender equality than certain female conservative politicians.\u00a0 The judiciary was a very positive example of female participation.\u00a0 There were four female judges among the five highest positions.<\/p>\nAs for\u00a0women in diplomacy<\/span>, the overall number of women employed in the foreign service was higher than the number of men.\u00a0 It was true that in political leadership of ministries there were no women.\u00a0 Women were not interested in taking up posts abroad, due to the unwillingness of their partners to abandon their careers at home.\u00a0 There were incentives to support families of diplomats abroad, but not to an extent that would cover financial loss at home due to diplomatic service abroad, the delegation explained.
\n<\/strong>
\nFollow-up Questions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nDid the State party analyse the lack of measures to increase the\u00a0political representation of women<\/span>, particularly of Roma women?\u00a0 As for the introduction of quotas, the Committee did not intend for the country to go against democratic processes.\u00a0 However, the Committee suggested that it was worthwhile looking at such measures?<\/p>\nDemocracy was about much more than the majority rule.\u00a0 Among them gender equality was an essential component.\u00a0 Perhaps it was time for the Slovak system to look into the quota system in order to improve its democracy, an Expert observed.
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong>
\nThe delegation clarified that in a democratic country it was difficult to impose measures that would be accepted by Parliament.\u00a0 Parliament opposed the introduction of\u00a0quotas for women<\/span>.\u00a0 As for the political representation of Roma women, it was difficult to establish who was Roma.\u00a0 The Government was not allowed to collect data on the proportion of Roma in certain professions.\u00a0 Since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, there had been three Roma representatives in Parliament.
\n<\/strong>
\nQuestions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nAn Expert raised the issue of\u00a0segregation of Roma children in schools<\/span>.\u00a0 How did the State party deal with institutional and multiple discrimination of Roma girls?\u00a0 They were placed in separate classrooms or schools, which was contrary to the Anti-Discrimination Act.\u00a0 Would the separation of Roma children really help build the Slovak social model?\u00a0\u00a0 How did the Government address the issue of\u00a0children with disabilities<\/span>?<\/p>\nAs for\u00a0employment<\/span>, the gender pay gap remained high in the private sector.\u00a0 Reconciliation of family and working life was a challenge.\u00a0 Was there any intention to introduce paternal leave and sanction employers who discriminated against mothers with young children?\u00a0 There was a high incidence of\u00a0sexual harassment<\/span>\u00a0of women in the labour market.\u00a0 There was limited access of Roma people to employment due to poor education and persisting discrimination.\u00a0 Roma women were highly marginalized in the labour market.\u00a0 What was being done to address that problem?<\/p>\nRegarding\u00a0health<\/span>, what were the obstacles to adopting a national programme on sexual and reproductive health education?\u00a0 Was there an intention to conduct an investigation of all cases of sterilization?\u00a0 In 2014 there was a very low level of the use of contraceptives by women in the reproductive age.\u00a0 What was being done to eliminate problems affecting access to modern contraceptives?\u00a0 As for\u00a0abortion<\/span>, could the delegation elaborate on the new procedural requirement introduced in 2009 on mandatory consultation on abortion.
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nThe main goal of the Ministry of Education was to maintain equal access to education, and to encourage tolerance for other peoples and cultures.\u00a0 In\u00a0 September 2014,sexual education<\/span>\u00a0entitled \u201cMarriage and Parenthood Education\u201d had been added to the compulsory cross-cutting subjects.\u00a0 It dealt with issues such as relationships, responsible approach to sexuality, development and parenthood, bodily changes during puberty, negative impact of drug addiction to one\u2019s sexuality, and the principles of safe behaviour.<\/p>\nThree big national projects were aimed at the inclusion of marginalized Roma communities, improving their education and professional competences, and their inclusion into the labour market.\u00a0\u00a0 As for\u00a0segregated classes<\/span>, amendments to the School Act had been adopted in September 2015 and they stipulated for inclusive education for marginalized communities.\u00a0 It was stipulated that children from socially disadvantaged environments could not attend special classes solely on that basis.\u00a0 The National Strategy for the Integration of Roma was focused on attracting Roma children to pre-primary education, which was attended by only 18 per cent of Roma children, and to keep them in secondary education and vocational schools.<\/p>\nAs for the\u00a0gender pay gap<\/span>, the delegation acknowledged it was still a challenge.\u00a0 However, progress had been made in the past five to six years in the equal pay for work of equal value.\u00a0 More women tended to work in the public service, education and service sector, which were less paid positions.\u00a0 Women still earned about 30 per cent less than men.\u00a0 In terms of women\u2019s participation in economic decision-making, few of them were in managerial positions, which was closely related to balancing of work and family life.\u00a0 In 2015 the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family started to implement the project entitled \u201cFamily and Work\u201d using affirmative action to support the employment of mothers of pre-school children, and to promote child care facilities.\u00a0 Allowance for child care had been increased.\u00a0 Labour inspectors produced annual reports on different areas, including on equal pay and reconciliation of family and work life.\u00a0 In 2013 they found 44 cases of unequal pay, and 733 cases of breaches of the conditions for balancing family and work life.\u00a0 As for Roma women, efforts to increase their participation in the labour market were closely related to better access to education.<\/p>\nAs for the cases of\u00a0forced sterilization of Roma women<\/span>, that issue was addressed at various international bodies.\u00a0 The Act on Health Care stipulated that medical practitioners had to inform and advise the patient about the consequences and risks of medical procedures.\u00a0 They had to do so in a manner that was comprehensible and considerate of the patient.\u00a0 The patient had the right to refuse a medical procedure.\u00a0 Informed consent was required for any sterilization and the patient had the right to withdraw consent at any time.\u00a0 The Ministry of Education had reviewed cases of sterilization in the past 10 years and all had been found to be legal.\u00a0 There was no evidence that the alleged cases of forced sterilization of Roma women were organized discriminatory practices.<\/p>\nThe\u00a0National Programme on Sexual and Reproductive Health<\/span>\u00a0had not been adopted yet, due to intense and controversial discussions about planned parenthood and abortion in the country.\u00a0 Contraceptives were widely available at affordable prices.\u00a0 Women of limited financial means could obtain them through insurance schemes.\u00a0 As for the provision of health services to marginalized Roma communities, that was done through the project \u201cHealthy Communities.\u201d\u00a0 Regarding\u00a0conscientious objection<\/span>\u00a0of medical practitioners to provide abortion or sterilization, that issue had been very topical some 10 years ago.\u00a0 But, no cases of refusal to perform abortion had been reported recently.\u00a0\u00a0Abortion<\/span>\u00a0was allowed within 12 weeks upon written request of the pregnant woman.\u00a0 The procedure was to be performed with an obligatory 48-hour waiting period after counselling.
\n<\/strong>
\nQuestions by Experts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nWhat was the gender profile of poverty?\u00a0 Did the State party envisage anti-poverty measures that were specifically aimed at women?\u00a0 Did it plan to take temporary special measures to\u00a0promote female entrepreneurship<\/span>?\u00a0 What was the kind of access that rural women had to decision-making, credit, resources and tertiary education?\u00a0 Could a comprehensive policy for Roma women be planned?\u00a0 What were measures being taken to combat racially motivated attacks on immigrant and asylum-seeking women and girls, as well as homophobic attacks and speech against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women?<\/p>\nAs for\u00a0shared custody<\/span>, a new measure was introduced in 2010 to allow for alternate custody by parents.\u00a0 That arrangement was the worst solution for children in high-conflict cases.\u00a0 What was the update on the process of preparing regulations for visitation in the context of domestic violence?\u00a0 Was business property and earning potential considered part of\u00a0marital property<\/span>?\u00a0 There was a lack of safeguarding economic rights of women in de facto unions.
\n<\/strong>
\nAnswers by the Delegation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nWomen were getting smaller pensions due to the gender pay gap.\u00a0 Since life expectancy for women was longer than for men, there were more women who received old-age pensions.\u00a0 Cooperation with Roma civil society organizations was carried out through the existing gender equality institutions.\u00a0 The Asylum Law was amended to provide protection measures for vulnerable migrant women.\u00a0 As for\u00a0shared custody<\/span>, and specifically\u00a0alternate custody<\/span>, it was adopted to observe the best interest of the child.\u00a0 In 85 per cent of cases, custody was given to mothers.\u00a0 Most cases of shared custody were made upon agreement of both parents.\u00a0 Violence against women was taken into account when granting custody.<\/p>\nHate crimes and hate speech were extensively covered by the law.\u00a0 The Ministry of the Interior had a strategy to combat extremism.\u00a0 In October 2015, an action plan on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons had been opened for public discussion.\u00a0 Under the Civil Code, everything was part of\u00a0marital property<\/span>, except the property acquired before marriage, inherited property and gifts.\u00a0 Business property could be part of sharing of marital property, but it was not directly defined through the law.\u00a0 It depended on whether the business was started before or during the marriage.<\/p>\n<\/strong>
\nConcluding Remarks<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nFEDOR ROSOCHA,\u00a0Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the United Nations Office at Geneva<\/span>, thanked the Committee for the comments and questions.\u00a0 The delegation appreciated the constructive criticism and fruitful discussions on the provisions of the Convention.\u00a0 The delegation also thanked civil society organizations for their comments.\u00a0 Slovakia would carefully consider the Committee\u2019s recommendations and observations in order to improve the rights of women in the country.<\/p>\nYOKO HAYASHI,\u00a0Chairperson of the Committee<\/span>, commended the State party for its efforts and encouraged it to take into consideration the measures suggested by the Committee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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