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The Roma in Slovakia

An estimated 500,000 Roma live in Slovakia, concentrated mainly in the East and South of the country. They are Slovakia's second largest minority, constituting 9.25 per cent of a population of over 5.4 million. Approximately one third of the Roma population in Slovakia live in settlements situated outside towns and villages, with limited or no water or electricity supplies, sanitation systems, paved roads and other basic infrastructure.
The Romani population tends to suffer disproportionately from higher rates of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and disease. Unemployment among Roma is estimated at 80-90 percent, and in some settlements it can reach almost 100 percent.

Legal framework

The 1992 Constitution recognises that the citizens of national minorities or ethnic groups shall be guaranteed: a) the right to be educated in a minority language, b) the right to use a minority language in official communications, and c) the right to participate in decision-making in matters affecting the national minorities and ethnic groups.
The 2002 Basic Positions of the Slovak Government's Roma Communities Integration Policy notes that the disproportionately high representation of Roma children in special schools requires immediate attention.
The National Action Plan adopted in the context of the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 aims at cutting down the number of Roma children attending special elementary schools and special training facilities.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to which Slovakia has been a party since 1993, sets forth the obligation of state parties to prohibit and eliminate "racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law". State parties are required to prevent, prohibit and eliminate discrimination, including in respect of "the right to education and training".
The EU Race Equality Directive prohibits discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin in access to education and training

The Slovak government adopted a document officially acknowledging Roma nationality, putting it on a par with other ethnic minorities living on the Slovak territory, guaranteeing support for the development of Roma culture and education, including the publication of Roma periodicals and books, the creation of a professional Roma theatre, support for Roma programs on TV and radio, etc. On the other hand, the negative consequences of the post-1989 political and economic changes left many Roma in new conditions of social isolation. The restructuring of the economy led to the elimination of many low-paid, unqualified jobs, predominantly held by the Roma. The lack of education, along with job discrimination, have resulted in difficulties in getting skilled jobs and a high rate of unemployment among the Roma.

In general the Roma prefer to apply a defensive strategy of mass migration to problem solving adaptation and developmental strategies (e.g. requalifications, qualification improvement, entrepreneurial activities, labour migration, etc.). One significant feature of mass migration from Slovakia has been its local character, as mass migration has originated only from certain Roma communities. In other communities the Roma have preferred other defensive strategies.

The Museum of Roma Culture in Slovakia was established on the 1st of January 2002 and it is the latest specialised working place of the Slovak National Gallery in the town of Martin. Its primary tasks include the documentation, research and presentation of Roma (material and spiritual) culture. Of great importance is also the mapping, documentation and presentation of the activities of other specialised institutions, universities, museal working places acting within this area as well as the instigation and coordination of cooperative activities.

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