Struggle for Human Rights Day is observed in Slovakia every March 25. This day commemorates the Candle Demonstration, which took place in 1988 in Bratislava and marked the first mass protest against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia since 1969. Organized by Roman Catholic Church dissent groups, the demonstration called for freedom of religion and saw around 5,000 participants gather at Hviezdoslav Square, holding lit candles. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, it was met with violent suppression by the secret police, who used water cannons and later clubs to disperse the crowd, resulting in over 140 arrests and numerous injuries among demonstrators. The event is significant for uniting individuals across various religious and political beliefs in their quest for human rights.