CALCULATED INJUSTICE – The Slovak Republic’s Failure to Ensure Access to Contraceptives
Contraceptives in Slovakia are not covered by public health insurance, making them inaccessible to many women and adolescent girls. The lack of accurate, unbiased and comprehensive information on modern contraceptives further inhibits their access.
Calculated Injustice documents the numerous barriers that women and adolescent girls in Slovakia face to accessing modern contraceptives and contraceptive information. Based on testimonies of women, healthcare providers, and others, this report illustrates that state failure to ensure both contraceptive coverage through public health insurance and accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive sexuality education in schools inhibits women’s and adolescents’ access to modern contraceptives and violates their human rights. Lack of ample data on relevant indicators and the influence of the Catholic Church hierarchy are
but two factors standing in the way of effective laws and policies in this area.
Calculated Injustice demonstrates how Slovakia’s failure to address these barriers runs counter to its obligations under national, regional, and international law, and defies sound public policy and economic considerations. It calls on the government and other key stakeholders to ensure that all women and adolescent girls have access to affordable and acceptable modern contraceptives and contraceptive information.
