The recent reforms and restrictions affecting freedom of association, freedom of assembly, and media freedom in the Slovak Republic, as well as the proposed constitutional amendments, which touch upon a wide range of rights and principles of international law, aim at undermining the obligation to comply with the human rights decisions of international organisations and are currently awaiting a parliamentary vote.
These reforms and restrictions, alongside the suspension of institutions and measures for combating corruption and extremism, have raised serious concerns among several Council of Europe bodies. These include the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Parliamentary Assembly’s General Rapporteur on the Rights of LGBTI persons and its Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee), who have expressed doubts about the Slovak’s Republic commitment to the core principles of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law as upheld by the Council of Europe.
Given the seriousness of these developments, the Assembly should ask the Monitoring Committee to prepare a report on the functioning of democratic institutions in the Slovak Republic. This is essential to assess and ensure that the country fully complies with its obligations and commitments as a member State of the Council of Europe.