The Council of Europe human rights commissioner Dunja Mijatovic has called for concerted efforts to address the discrimination faced by Roma people in the Czech Republic. During her five-day visit to the country, Mijatovic met with representatives of the Czech authorities and NGOs to examine the living conditions of the Roma minority and the situation with disabled people’s rights. In a press release for the Council of Europe, she acknowledged some positive developments but noted that many of the problems of discrimination and exclusion faced by Roma people and disabled people still persist.

Mijatovic highlighted several areas of concern, including education, housing, the labour market, and treatment by the police. She called for a paradigm shift away from the emphasis on testing in schools, which she described as an instrument of segregation of Roma children in lower-quality schools. She also discussed the difficulties faced by Roma women seeking compensation for historic forced sterilisation and by Roma refugees from Ukraine, who have encountered deeply rooted prejudices in Czech society.

Mijatovic urged the Czech Republic to do everything it can to address the long-standing issues of discrimination and exclusion faced by Roma and disabled people. While acknowledging that the Czech authorities are aware of the existing problems and are working on strategies to address them, she noted that the implementation of these plans has been ineffective in practice. She called for proper implementation and enforcement of good ideas and intentions that could help Czech society become more inclusive.

Mijatovic’s comments come amid ongoing efforts to tackle discrimination against Roma people across Europe. In 2019, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for action to combat discrimination and improve the social and economic inclusion of Roma people. The resolution called for increased funding for programmes targeting Roma people, improved data collection, and greater political engagement on the issue.

Efforts to address discrimination against Roma people have been hindered by persistent negative attitudes and stereotypes, as well as by economic and social factors. Roma people are among the poorest and most socially excluded groups in Europe, with high rates of unemployment, poor housing, and low levels of education. Discrimination against Roma people has been linked to factors such as poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, and cultural and linguistic differences.

Article by Prague Forum