A/HRC/41/13 9. The authorities expected to adopt an amendment to the Act on the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights in the near future. The amendment included changes to improve the selection process for the Director of the Centre and to strengthen the mandate and independence of the Centre so that it complied with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). 10. The new Act on Victims of Crime, which entered into force in 2018, included a provision on assistance for victims, including psychological support, legal assistance and measures to avoid revictimization during the criminal proceedings. In the Act, special attention was paid to child victims, including through a provision for a stronger mechanism to protect the rights and interests of the child during the interrogation of child victims or child witnesses. 11. The Government had started the provision of free meals in kindergartens and primary schools in 2019, which could have a positive impact on the attendance of children from families in disadvantaged situations. The Government had taken measures to make preschool education mandatory, with a view to improving the school attendance of Roma children. 12. In 2018, the Government had started implementing a plan to employ health education assistants for over 300 villages for a two-year period in order to improve access to health services for Roma in less developed parts of the country. The assistants were all Roma women who had received continuous education in health-care assistance and reproductive health. 13. The existing legislation allowed the application of the right to conscientious objection by health-care professionals regarding the protection of the life of an unborn child. The national programme on the care of children and youth covered reproductive health and rights to ensure quality care for pregnant women and newborns and to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates. 14. In the area of gender equality, the Government had taken measures to ensure conditions necessary for reconciling family life and work and reducing the gender pay gap. The number of fathers taking paid paternity leave for seven months had increased, reaching 17 per cent of fathers in 2018. Women ministers constituted one third of the Government. 15. The delegation highlighted measures taken to protect women and children from violence. The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family operated a free hotline for women and provided services for victims of domestic violence, including by supporting various projects implemented by non-governmental organizations. The use of such services by women and the rate of reporting and prosecution of domestic violence cases had increased. The Government had carried out public awareness campaigns to prevent violence against children and implemented reforms to improve the social protection system. 16. A system of support for persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities was in place to preserve and protect the identities and cultures of minorities. The Act on the fund for the promotion of the culture of persons belonging to national minorities, which had come into effect in 2017, was aimed at transforming the previous State system into a new one and providing effective support for cultural and arts initiatives of all persons belonging to national minorities. 17. The Government had approved a national programme on education, and its implementation plan, in 2018 to improve lifelong education for adults and the integration and inclusion of Roma children and children from socially disadvantaged families, and to ensure that the education system was interlinked with the needs of the national economy and labour market. 18. Housing remained a challenge, not only for Roma but also for low-income households. The State housing policy concept to 2020 had included an objective on making housing affordable. 19. The authorities had amended the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure in 2017 to effectively prosecute all forms of criminal conduct having elements of extremism. A specialized criminal court was authorized to deal with criminal offences of 3