CEDAW calls on Slovakia to Address Forced Sterilization and Refusals of Care

Slovakia must take urgent action to prevent Roma women from being sterilized without prior and informed consent. This was a key concluding observation from the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which reviewed Slovakia on July 2. The Committee called on the government of Slovakia to better monitor public and private health facilities that perform sterilization procedures, ensure that all relevant healthcare providers are aware of and respect women’s reproductive rights, and ensure that Roma women who are victims of forced sterilization have recourse to justiceThe Committee also expressed concern about women’s access to reproductive healthcare being limited by health professionals claiming conscientious objection. It urged the government to regulate the use of conscientious objection and ensure women are referred to alternative healthcare providers. These recommendations reflect a recent opinion issued by the European Union Network of Experts on Fundamental Rights, which relied heavily on the Center’s work when addressing the issue of ensuring access to reproductive healthcare.