Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has urged the Czech Republic to address the discrimination faced by Roma communities in the country, following her visit on Monday. Although she highlighted some positive developments, Mijatović noted that there were still issues in areas such as education, housing, employment, and interaction with the police. She specifically emphasized the need for children from all backgrounds to learn together, rather than being separated into lower-quality or special needs schools. Mijatović also drew attention to the different treatment of Roma refugees coming to the Czech Republic from Ukraine. While Ukrainian people fleeing the country found it relatively easy to secure housing and employment, Roma Ukrainians faced significant obstacles. According to the statement released by the Council of Europe, this highlighted the deep-rooted prejudices against Roma that still exist in Czech society.

During the war, hundreds of Ukrainian-Romani people sought help in the Czech Republic, with some returning to Ukraine and others finding refuge in countries such as Ireland and Germany. However, just 300 Roma-Ukrainian refugees ended up in the Czech Republic, with many being discouraged by the initial unfriendly conditions they encountered. Some regions and accommodation facilities failed to provide refuge for the Romani Ukrainians, leading to criticism from NGOs. Furthermore, as we previously reported, Roma Ukrainian refugees with dual Ukrainian-Hungarian citizenship also faced difficulties in accessing aid.

Mijatović’s visit also highlighted the ongoing struggle faced by Romani women trying to access compensation for forced sterilizations. During her visit, Mijatović met with victims of forced sterilizations and discussed the difficulties they continue to face when accessing the compensation mechanism introduced by the Czech Republic. She called for a swift resolution to evidentiary issues, clear guidance on the assessment of applications, and the acceleration of the process to ensure that victims receive the justice they deserve.

While the Czech authorities are aware of the problems faced by Roma communities in the country and are working on strategies to address them, Mijatović noted that there is still a fragmentation of responsibilities that creates significant barriers to the successful implementation of policies. The Commissioner emphasized the need for proper implementation and enforcement of good ideas and intentions, stating that there is still an important gap in this area.

In conclusion, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner has called on the Czech Republic to make greater efforts to address the long-standing problem of discrimination against Roma people and people with disabilities. The country should ensure that all individuals have the right to live in equality and dignity, regardless of their background or circumstances. The deep-rooted prejudices against Roma that still exist in Czech society need to be tackled in order to create a more inclusive and just society.

Article by Prague Forum