Description
The project aims to improve the institutional protection and access to justice in cases of police violence in Slovakia. Effective investigation of these cases in line with international legal standards is essential to strengthen citizens' trust in the state bodies that ensure access to justice. It is also crucial for prevention of such cases in our society. Within the project, we will monitor cases of police violence with an emphasis on the cases against disadvantaged members of Roma minority, which implies possible racial motivation of the violence. We will provide free legal assistance in criminal proceedings and will point out the serious shortcomings in the investigation of the cases of police violence by the responsible state body – The Control Inspection Service of the Ministry of Interior. The projects will increase public support for reform changes in this area, which necessarily includes the creation of fully independent body to investigate crimes of members of the police.
Summary of project results
Institutional protection from police violence in Slovakia has been insufficient and affected persons faced barriers in access to justice.Over previous years cases of police violence have been widely reported particularly against Romani minority. Effective investigation of these cases is necessary for strengthening public trust in state bodies that shall secure access to justice and are crucial for their prevention in our society. Within the project we provided free legal representation to 12 persons affected by police violence in strategic case within criminal proceedings. All project outputs will be further used for advocacy activities towards relevant state institutions and thus for further pursuing the original project goal. At the same time further impact of achieved outputs will be evaluated in the middle and long-term. Through pending criminal proceedings we will further be encouraging public discussion about police violence in Slovakia and necessary measures in this area. The goal of the project was development of advocacy and watch-dog activities and it was pursued by achieving concrete specified project outputs. By the realization of the project all outputs have been achieved.The project contributed to achieving the goal through monitoring of police violence we documented concrete cases of this practice, got in contact with affected persons and we also used documented information for supportive international advocacy activities (e.g. communication with various international human rights bodies); legal counseling and legal representation in criminal proceedings helped Roma, who faced police violence and increased their chances to get justice. Pending criminal proceedings in cases of police violence against Roma boys from Lunik IX (2009) and police raids in Moldava nad Bodvou (2013) and Vrbnica (2015) called media attention and encouraged public discussion about police violence in Slovakia; published critical report about shortcomings in investigation of police violence and ensuing press conference supported public discussion about this issue;published press releases resulted from decisions in cases of police violence we provided legal aid. Based on them the media informed wide public and confronted responsible public authorities.
Summary of bilateral results