Friends of Minorities Parliamentary Group
The Friends of Minorities Parliamentary Group (SPMN) is an initiative by the Matthias Bel Institute aimed at enhancing minority representation in Slovakia's legislative process. As the country navigates a period without ethnic minority representation in parliament, SPMN plays a crucial role in ensuring that minority voices are heard and considered.
For the first time in the modern history of Slovakia, there is no parliamentary party representing the ethnic minorities at a programmatic level. For a country, where minorities make up 20 % of Slovakia's population that is a significant shortcoming. We seek to compensate for this by creating a channel of active dialogue between minority rights experts and members of parliament.
SPMN is comprised of two groups. The first is our expert group, which consists of 10 senior minority rights experts, including former government plenipotentiaries, state officials, senior NGO personnel and researchers. Before each parliamentary session, this expert group creates informed comments and recommendations about every piece of legislation that has a direct or indirect effect on the life of minorities in Slovakia.
The document created by the experts is then consulted with the second group, the MP contact group. This is a cross-party group of MPs with an affinity for minority issues that we meet in person. During the meetings, we describe the positions developed by the FMPG's experts, consult possible changes to legislation and provide expert knowledge to the MPs.
Since its inception in 2021, SPMN has:
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Conducted in-depth reviews of over 70 legislative proposals across 20 parliamentary sessions
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Provided expert input that has directly influenced laws in key areas of minority rights
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Established a cross-party MP contact group dedicated to minority issues
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Fostered collaboration between experts and policymakers to inform legislative decisions
SPMN offers a distinctive model for minority representation:
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Expert-Driven Policy Analysis: We bring together leading experts on minority issues to develop informed policy recommendations.
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Direct Parliamentary Engagement: Our MP contact group provides a direct channel for expert input into the legislative process.
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Cross-Party Collaboration: We work across political lines to foster consensus on minority rights.
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Measurable Legislative Impact: Our interventions lead to tangible improvements in legislation affecting minorities.
We are proud to collaborate with the Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN), a US-based expert network. This partnership enhances our capacity through knowledge-sharing, workshops, and tutoring, allowing us to provide more effective support to the Friends of Minorities Parliamentary Group. The ASN partnership is crucial in elevating our expertise and ensuring that our policy recommendations are informed by international best practices.
As we look to the future, your support can help us scale this vital work, ensuring that minority voices continue to shape Slovakia's legislative landscape. Together, we can build a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous Slovakia for all.