4.2 Administration and governance
Address
NIVAM - Národný inštitút vzdelávania a mládeže
NIVAM - National Institute of youth and education
Hálova 6
SK- 851 01 Bratislava
Tel: +421 2/482 094 11
E-Mail: neformalne@nivam.sk
Website
Governance
In the field of social inclusion, the Slovak Republic fully respects obligations adopted at the level of the European Union, United Nations Organisation and UNESCO. The theme of social inclusion has been developed at the governmental level and at the level of state and some competencies have been transferred to local or regional governments e.g. establishing of social care homes for children (Act on the Organisation of the Government Activities and on the Organisation of Central State Administration (Zákon o organizácii činnosti vlády a organizácii ústrednej štátnej správy). The Governmental Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality (Rada vlády pre ľudské práva, národnostné menšiny a rodovú rovnosť) play the role of permanent, expert, advisory, coordination and consultative body in this field.
The Government of the Slovak Republic recently approved the establishment of the Government Council for the Inclusion of Marginalised Roma Communities (Rada vlády SR pre inklúziu marginalizovaných rómskych komunít) to enhance coordination of Roma integration efforts across ministries and improve cooperation with local governments.
Main actors
The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, bearing the final responsibility for the field of social inclusion, deals also with the employment strategy, labour market policy, social insurance, public social benefits, social care, social/legal child protection, social guardianship, gender equality and equal opportunities.
Other public actors and institutions involved in tackling the social exclusion:
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Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities, transferred from the Ministry of Interior to the Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic in June 2021, coordinates social inclusion efforts for inhabitants of Roma communities.
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Public Defender of Rights is protecting the general human right ensured by the Slovak Constitution Act
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The Children Commissioner (Komisár pre deti) was established in 2012 by Act 176/2015, protecting the rights of the child granted by The Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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The Commissioner of the Persons with Disabilities (Komisár pre osoby so zdravotným postihnutím) is protecting the rights of persons with disabilities granted by The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Non-governmental actors working towards social integration, including the youth as the target group:
|
Organization |
Focus and Target Group |
Key Activities |
|
Slovak Youth Council (RmS) |
Umbrella organization for youth NGOs |
Supports education and volunteering; gathers data to shape inclusive youth policy |
|
Institute for Information and Education – Project “Social Inclusion and Competence Development of Young People” |
Youth in Eastern Slovakia (esp. Košice, Prešov) |
Creates safe leisure spaces, strengthens personal and social competences to prevent socio-pathological phenomena |
|
STAR n.o. (Together to Grow) |
Marginalized youth, schools in underdeveloped areas |
Promotes inclusive school environments through the "Nurture" program; community and empathy-based development |
|
Coalition for Equality in Education |
Roma youth, marginalized children |
Advocacy coalition of NGOs (Amnesty, People in Need, etc.) fighting school segregation and discrimination |
|
NIVaM – Youth Work Department |
Youth workers, NGOs, youth with disabilities |
Publishes practical guides on inclusion (e.g. "Join Inclusion"), supports Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps inclusion efforts |
|
Fund for NGOs – Active Citizenship and Inclusion Program |
Civil society, youth-focused inclusion projects |
Grants for civic engagement and social inclusion initiatives (managed by Ekopolis Foundation and partners) |
|
National Project of Field social work and community centers (2023-2029) |
Roma communities, youth at risk, homeless youth, families in generational poverty |
Project supporting field social workers and community centres to address poverty and social exclusion in municipalities |
Cross-sectorial cooperation
The The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family facilitates activities of the Committee for Children and Youth (Výbor pre deti a mládež), being one of the committees of the Governmental Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality. It gathers together representatives of various ministries, local and regional governments, as well as non-governmental non-profit organisations. This committee elaborates the National Action Plan for Children, (Národný akčný plán pre deti 2015 - 2017) representing basic instrument for targeted and coordinated actions for implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols at the national level. This Action Plan is followed up by the Vison and Strategy of the Development of Slovakia 2030.
This framework was complemented by the National Action Plan of the European Child Guarantee in the Slovak Republic until 2030 (approved February 2025), which ensures access for children in need to early childhood education, adequate housing and social care, healthcare, and healthy nutrition.