Minorities within Slovakia, such as the Roma population, are still facing daily struggles with poverty. Child poverty in Slovakia is evident, and children face several issues, such as abuse, lack of education and a lack of access to health care. Many children face harsh living conditions without running water, sewer systems and electricity. It is often seen that their development is harmed due to the lack of proper nutrition. The population of children in Slovakia is 1.2 million, and 19.7% are impoverished.

School in Slovakia

Although many Slovakian children do have access to schools, it is apparent that minority groups do not have the same access to education throughout the country. Often, these children of minority groups are sent to mentally handicapped schools. However, they are not seen to have symptoms of any mental or learning disabilities, therefore severely damaging their opportunity for psychological development. Reports by Eurochild show that there is a high number of high school dropouts in the Roma minority population.

Child Abuse in Slovakia

There is a significant issue with child abuse within Slovakia. For every 100,000 children, one will die of abuse. Many parents still consider abuse as a disciplinary tool. Despite significant efforts to prevent child trafficking by the Slovak government, trafficking is still a prominent problem. There are significantly low conviction rates for those caught committing crimes involving sex trafficking, and very few serve jail time after these prosecutions. 

Child Health Care in Slovakia

There is also a significant struggle for rural and minority populations to access health care. Due to a poor public transportation system, complications occur when trying to reach hospitals. There is a 9% death rate for infants and a 10% death rate for children over the age of 5. Slovakia currently struggles with a shortage of doctors, restricting many children from vitally needed care. Slovakia has some of the highest death rates from preventable mortalities within the EU. 

Child Labor in Slovakia

Although child labor is banned within Slovakia, it is still an issue. It is often seen through begging or sending young children to ask for money. Traffickers often force Roma children with disabilities to beg on the streets throughout Western Europe. Many labor traffickers exploit Slovak children in foreign countries in fields such as agriculture, manufacturing and construction. Labor effects mainly target young boys and men to carry out physically demanding tasks. Young girls are more vulnerable to domestic labor, such as cleaning or working in restaurants or massage parlors.

Looking Ahead

Although Slovakia is still battling with child poverty, the country is taking strides to counteract its struggles and better the lives of many Slovak children. The government initiated a trafficking prevention scheme, conducting public awareness campaigns about the signs of trafficking. It also issued a prevention scheme for child labor in which all worker recruitment companies were forced to register with the government, therefore limiting child exploitation. The Slovak government aims to create 170 new GP jobs between 2022 and 2026, therefore increasing the accessibility of health care.

–Elle Chipperfield 

Photo: Flickr