Human Rights Coalition: System Meant to Protect Women in Slovakia Is Failing

Bratislava, 26 June (TASR) - Women in Slovakia are dying because the system meant to protect them is failing, the Human Rights Coalition (HRC) stated on Friday, calling on the government, the Interior Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Labour Ministry, the Prosecutor General's Office, as well as all other relevant institutions to take immediate action in response to the recent murder in Gelnica (Kosice region). "Another victim whose life was not taken by a stranger, but by someone who had abused and intimidated her for a long period. The case of Zuzana from Gelnica once again shows that Slovakia - that is, those responsible for running the state's institutions - is failing to adequately protect women during what experts on gender-based violence consider to be one of the highest-risk periods: after a violent partner is released from custody or prison," according to the HRC. Most murders of women by their partners or ex-partners could be prevented if the state institutions were able to recognise the threat and act in advance, stated the HRC, pointing to the absence of clear coordination procedures between the police, courts, the prosecution service, prisons, women's safe houses, and counselling or intervention centres, as well as the minimal use of electronic monitoring. "Electronic monitoring bracelets should be a standard component of protection in high-risk cases, especially when restraining or no-contact orders are in place," remarked the HRC, noting that every woman whose violent partner is to be released should be notified in advance. The HRC has therefore called on institutions to immediately introduce a mandatory and unified threat assessment in cases involving violence, and to establish binding multi-institutional coordination procedures. In response, the Justice Ministry has confirmed for TASR that, independently of this tragic case, it has been systematically preparing measures that will be presented in the near future. Zuzana V. [the name abbreviated due to legal reasons] was killed in a brutal attack in Gelnica on Saturday (20 June). The attacker fled the scene immediately after the incident. Police later detained the suspect on a rural road near Kosice. The man was charged with the particularly serious crime of murder, and prosecutors also filed a motion seeking his remand in custody. On Tuesday (23 June), a judge of the Kosice City Court ordered the accused into so-called flight-risk and preventive detention. Earlier on 9 June, the District Court in Spisska Nova Ves handed the attacker, Tomas V., an eight-month suspended sentence for making dangerous threats. Until then, he had been held in custody as a suspect in a criminal case involving dangerous threats after he attacked his wife while under the influence of alcohol on 21 February. jrg/mcs