MINELRES: Fwd: Slovakia and Anti-Discrimination Legislation

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Roma Network <romale@zahav.net.il>


From:   Kristina Magdolenova <magdolenova@rpa.sk>
 
Lipsic: Single Anti-Discriminatory Law would be Victory of Politics
 
BRATISLAVA, January 13 � Justice Minister Daniel Lipsic is unhappy with
the idea that a single anti-discrimination bill might go through. He
suggests that the anti-discriminatory bill from the workshop of Deputy
Prime Minister Pal Csaky's team is absurd and its passage would be a
victory of politics over professional approach. If this happens, the
Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH) will consider contesting the bill at
the Constitutional Court as Mr. Lipsic thinks that some portions of Mr.
Csaky's draft law contravene the constitution. Mr. Lipsic is certain
that the best solution would be to incorporate anti-discriminatory
measures into 14 already existing laws.

Those who insist that the single law is the best for the European Union
are mistaken, insists the minister. According to him, EU directives do
not define the concrete shape of anti-discriminatory legislation.
Moreover, the minister thinks that the proposal of a single bill is an
indirect revision to the country's legal order.

The KDH plans to submit its 14 amendments to cabinet and parliament in
one package so that one vote decides on their fate.

However, Mr. Csaky's team has argued that it would require amending
about eighty current laws to secure non-discrimination in Slovakia?s
legal system. The deputy prime minister underscores that also Bulgaria
adopted a single law and the Czech Republic and Hungary agreed to having
the anti-discriminatory agenda in one law.

The European Commission urged Slovakia to implement new
anti-discriminatory legislation in its report issued at the end of
September. Nevertheless, Slovakia has had the draft ready since
February, drawn up by a team of Mr. Csaky. The bill bans any
discrimination based on sex, race, language, age, sexual orientation,
religion or any other grounds. However, the KDH has thwarted the
approval of the draft. The Christian Democrats not only protest against
the idea of same sex marriages but it even dislikes the paragraph
against discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace;
they suggest, for example, that homosexuals should not teach children.
In October, parliament threw out the anti-discrimination draft law from
the opposition SMER's workroom.

 
Linden: European Union Prefers Single Anti-Discriminatory Law

BRATISLAVA, January 13 � European Union prefers if Slovakia adopts one
single anti-discriminatory law. Head of the European Commission
delegation to Slovakia Eric van der Linden said this on Tuesday at a
meeting of ambassadors of EU member countries to Slovakia with Slovak
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Pal Csaky. The EU prefers
to work with one complex law rather than with revisions of more laws,
claims Mr. Linden, however adding that the EU member countries vary in
ways they deal with their anti-discriminatory legislation.

Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Minister Daniel Lipsic from the Christian
Democratic Movement (KDH) said that the anti-discriminatory bill
presented by Mr. Csaky was absurd and that some of its parts contravened
the constitution. Mr. Lipsic is certain that the best solution would be
to incorporate anti-discriminatory measures into fourteen already
existing laws. 

Mr. Csaky rejected the criticism. "The anti-discriminatory law complies
with criteria of European legislation", said the Deputy Prime Minister.
He plans to consult the bill with Mr. Lipsic to improve it, but he will
insist on this one bill, which should be clear and enforceable. As Mr.
Csaky had consulted the bill with several constitutional lawyers, the
bill should be in compliance with the constitution, said Mr. Csaky's
spokesman Martin Urmanic. 

The European Commission urged Slovakia to implement new
anti-discriminatory legislation in its regular report issued at the end
of September last year. The form, whether to adopt one complex
anti-discriminatory law or amend existing laws, was left up to the
country to decide. The complex anti-discriminatory bill drawn up by a
team of Mr. Csaky bans any discrimination based on sex, race, language,
age, sexual orientation, religion or any other grounds.

However, the Christian Democrats protest against the idea of same sex
marriages. They protest also against the paragraph against
discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace; they
suggest, for example, that homosexuals should not teach children.

 
Source: SITA