A partisan proposal

Committee for the Rights of Lesbians, Gays, Gisexual, Transgender and Intersexual Persons (LGBTI) is only a step from its establishment in Slovakia. Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcák on 15 August submitted for comments a proposal extending the statutes of the Government Council for Human Rights, Ethnic Minorities and Gender Equality, envisaging its foundation. Bishops’ conference of Slovakia, along with many pro-life organizations and Christian associations have risen a fundamental objection against this step and whole country is waiting for the reply.Formal background. The LGBTI Persons’ Rights Committee should be established as a permanent expert body of the government’s human rights council, with aim to "address fundamental issues related to the improvement of the rights of non-heterosexuals and attempt to make state policies within this matter more effective". It should be chaired by Justice Minister Tomás Borec, while the tasks of the committee’s secretariat will be carried out by the Justice Ministry. Members of the committee would be nominated by non-governmental organisations and the state administration. However, it should be mentioned that the discussion regarding this topic is not new. The proposal to found such a committee was rejected by the previous government of Iveta Radicová on 11 May 2011. Christian Democratic Movement and some Slovak Democratic and Christian Union ministers voted against it. Objection of the Bishops’ conference. The Bishops’ conference of Slovakia raised a fundamental objection addressed to the Ministry of foreign affairs on 28 August regarding the intended establishment of the committee. The prelates appeal to the Government to reject the proposal, pointing to the fact that it "contradicts" its program declaration with engagement to "thorough application of the essential rule of the Family law, stating that marriage is a unique bond between a man and a woman, and is due to be protected and benefited by the society". According to president of the Bishops’ conference, Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský, requests of the LGBTI community like registered partnerships and adoption of children by homosexual couples, "violate a legal status of the institute of marriage and family". Establishment of such a committee is "not necessary", taking into account that the agenda of the rights of LGBTI persons is currently completely and without any problems handled by already existing Committee for Prevention and Elimination of Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism and Other Forms of Discrimination. "There are many other groups of persons who can feel much more endangered by discrimination, like unborn children or families with many children, which don’t have a special committee for their rights", concludes the letter of the bishops.Protest of pro-life organizations. The Forum for Life, associating over 40 pro-life institutions in Slovakia, sent its objection against establishment of the LGBTI Persons’ Rights Committee on 17 August. Member institutions remind the Government of an "objective contribution" of traditional family for the society. "We consider claiming of the rights above standard for other persons and informal partnerships to be a harmful and negative influence on global perception of marriage and family", writes the Forum for Life. According to its vice-president Marek Michalcík, LGBTI activists create a false impression that discrimination of such citizens in Slovakia really exists, which is not true. "Our country is a modern state with sophisticated legal system, it’s tolerant and democratic. Each citizen has a chance to live freely in accordance with his/her conscience and use the potential of our legal system, including the citizens with non-heterosexual orientation. Their basic human rights are protected exactly the same way as rights of any other citizen of Slovak republic", explains Michalcík. In case the establishment of the Committee for the rights of LGBTI persons becomes reality, the Forum for Life suggests foundation of the Committee for Protection of Marriage and Family, with aim to explore discrimination of marriage and family, "mainly in confrontation with people living in other forms of partnerships". Another proposal would be to establish a committee dealing with rights of conceived children who die by means of artificial abortion.