On behalf of NGOs that have long been working to protect human and children's rights, children with disabilities, transparency in public life, and concrete help for children and young people in crisis, we call on you, Mr Mikloško, to step down as Commissioner for Children.
By your decision to accept a representative of a political party before the elections to the National Assembly of the Slovak Republic, several of whose representatives repeatedly act violently against others, do not respect minorities, fundamental human rights, and define their views against basic democratic principles - which has been officially confirmed by several courts - you have seriously damaged the credibility of the Office of the Commissioner for Children as an apolitical institution that focuses on the protection of human rights.
We also note with concern that you have not objected to the statement by the chair of the Republic Party, Milan Uhrík, who in a post published on social media, along with your joint photo, claims that the goal of the political party is to protect children "even from the malign influence of the progressive agenda". We see this as intimidation, manipulation and dehumanisation of legitimate advocacy for the protection and development of human rights.
You, as a representative of the Office of the Children's Commissioner, have thereby become part of the intimidating and manipulative political agenda of the Republican Party. Your promise to the public that you would stand up for all children has been seriously broken by your promotion of cooperation, even future cooperation, with the Republican Party.
The Office of the Children's Commissioner should be apolitical, accessible to all children and young people, and should not be associated with anyone who challenges the legitimate promotion of human rights in the public sphere through intimidation and manipulation. It should not be a 'plaything' in the hands of politicians who use it as part of their election campaigns.
The role of the Children's Commissioner is to safeguard all children and young people. The Children's Commissioner should therefore always take a clear stand against the actions of politicians who repeatedly fail to respect democratic principles and fundamental human rights in their public conduct.
For these reasons too, Mr Mikloško, we urge you to make the right decision.
Apologise and resign.
Signatories:
Coalition for Children Slovakia
- Mental Health League
- Foundation for Children of Slovakia
- Stop Corruption Foundation
- Centrum Slniečko, n.o.
- Návrat, o.z.
- IPČKO
- OZ Prima
- CVEK
- Centre for Social Services Krupina
- We Mums
- Woman in distress
- OZ STORM
- TENENET,o.z.
- Náruč - Helping children in crisis
- LUNA,n.o.
- Children's Safety Line, n.o.
- Counselling Centre Nádej
- Society of Friends of Children - Li(e)nka, Children's Helpline
- Future, n.o.
