Slovakia
Slovakia regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Slovakia has implemented ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme since 2017 and the Prosecutors and Hate Crime Training (PAHCT) programme since 2018. In 2018, the Ministry of Interior co-organized with ODIHR and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights a workshop on understanding and improving hate crime recording and data collection, based on ODIHR's Information Against Hate Crimes Toolkit (INFAHCT). There is a high degree of hate crime specialization in both police and prosecutor structures in Slovakia.
The Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism, and Other Forms of Intolerance was established as a Government advisory body. The Committee established working groups on hate speech on the internet and anti-Semitism, in line with the Memorandum on Cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Slovakia. The working groups include representatives of the police and prosecutor's office, as well as civil society organizations focusing on human rights, anti-Roma racism, and anti-Semitism.
OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES
| Year | Hate crimes recorded by police | Prosecuted | Sentenced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 46 | Not available | 5 |
| 2022 | 28 | 16 | 12 |
| 2021 | 20 | 13 | 15 |
| 2020 | 20 | 16 | 6 |
| 2019 | 50 | 38 | 8 |
| 2018 | 41 | 20 | 15 |
| 2017 | 34 | 16 | 10 |
| 2016 | 10 | 9 | 3 |
| 2015 | 6 | 30 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 | Not available | 4 |
| 2013 | 7 | Not available | 7 |
| 2012 | 102 | Not available | 16 |
| 2011 | 242 | Not available | 16 |
| 2010 | Not available | Not available | 10 |
| 2009 | 132 | Not available | 18 |
About 2020 Data
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These figures refer to crimes recorded as having a "special motivation", i.e. hate crimes. The data is provided by the police and Prosecutor General's Office. The 20 crimes recorded by the police were committed by 12 persons (cumulative crimes). The prosecution and sentencing figures refer to proceedings for "specially motivated" crimes recorded by the courts and the General Prosecutor's Office in 2020. The numbers here may include offences that fall outside of the OSCE's hate crime definition.
Hate crime recorded by police
KEY OBSERVATION
ODIHR recognizes Slovakia's recent efforts in the areas of hate crime specialization in its police and prosecution, training police officers and prosecutors through ODIHR's TAHCLE and PAHCT programmes as well as in reporting on hate crimes to ODIHR regularly. However, based on the available information, it observes that the law enforcement agencies of Slovakia have not recorded the bias motivations behind hate crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Slovakia would benefit from developing its victim support system to ensure effective access to justice, assistance, and protection for hate crime victims.
ODIHR recalls that in the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States have committed to promptly investigating hate crimes and ensuring that the motives of those convicted of hate crimes are acknowledged. To that end, the law enforcement agencies must, first of all, record the bias motivations behind hate crimes. Furthermore, in the Ministerial Council Decisions 9/09 and 13/06, participating States have committed to providing hate crime victims with access to counselling and legal assistance, as well as effective access to justice; and to increasing the positive interaction between police and victims of hate crimes by training front-line officers, including the provision of referrals for victim assistance and protection. ODIHR stands ready to support Slovakia in meeting its relevant commitments through the provision of comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as through providing further resources and assistance in the area of hate crime victim support.
INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY
Anti-Roma hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04 | Violent attacks against people | OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
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