Deliverable 2: RoL Report launch

On July 24, the Centre publicly presented its 2024 Report on the Rule of Law in Slovakia in Bratislava, covering developments from January to December 2024 in the areas of judicial independence, media freedom, civic space, and the protection of human rights defenders.

The report was introduced by Marian Filčík, who emphasized key concerns such as the excessive use of fast-track legislative procedures, verbal attacks on judges, restrictions on freedom of assembly, and proposed discriminatory legislation targeting NGOs and their funding.

Katarína Batková, Executive Director of VIA IURIS, contributed insights from the civil sector, presenting an analysis as part of the European network Liberties that documents the systematic weakening of democratic institutions in Slovakia. Radim Dvořák, representing the European Commission in Slovakia, provided a broader European context, highlighting the need to protect democratic principles at a time of increasing polarization and institutional weakening.

Slovak National Centre for Human Rights highlighted the need for concerted efforts on reporting on the state of rule of law in Slovakia and its apparent backsliding, to prevent desensitization of both lay and expert public to mounting threats to rule of law, human rights and democracy and keep issuing recommendations to promote good governance and public’s legitimate expectations.