Czech Government Council for Roma Community Affairs considers visa introduction to be a disproportionately harsh measure, supports Kocáb’s position

The Czech Government Council for Roma Community Affairs considers the introduction of visas by Canada to be a disproportionately harsh measure. The Council believes Canada has not taken advantage of other available measures to prevent the much-discussed use being made of the Canadian asylum system. The Council also supports the previously released position of Czech Human Rights and Minorities Minister Michael Kocáb. Romea.cz publishes the Council’s declaration and Kocáb’s position below in full:.

15 July 2009 Declaration by the Czech Government Council for Roma Community Affairs on the introduction of the visa obligation for citizens of the Czech Republic traveling to Canada:

At an extraordinary session today, the Council discussed, among other matters, the issue of the reintroduction of the visa obligation for citizens of the Czech Republic visiting Canada. The Council is aware that the Roma are afflicted by disproportionate social exclusion, prejudice and discrimination. This was most recently confirmed by the conclusions of the EU Committee for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Protection dated 8 June 2009, which include 10 common principles concerning the inclusion of Roma into society. These principles were discussed at the first meeting of the EU Integrated Platform for Roma Inclusion in April 2009. Resolution of these problems requires the long-term, coordinated approach of all interested parties at the international, national and local levels.

The Council also expresses its deep concern regarding the negative trend of the rise in right-wing extremism occurring in many democratic countries.

The Council nevertheless considers the renewal of the visa obligation to be disproportionately harsh, given that Canada has not made use of all the other available measures to prevent the much-discussed use being made of the Canadian asylum system. Instead, Canada introduced visas across the board without informing the Czech Republic sufficiently in advance through standard diplomatic channels.

The Council also fully endorses the official position of Czech Human Rights and Minorities Minister Michael Kocáb, which is appended to this declaration.

15 July 2009 Press Release on the introduction of visas by Canada – Czech Human Rights and Minorities Minister Michael Kocáb

The introduction of visas due to the rise in asylum seekers is based on real causes. In addition to Canada’s benevolent immigration system, these causes are the dramatic rise in the activity of extremist movements and parties, as well as some public authorities’ inappropriate practices vis-?-vis the Roma. These facts foment a feeling of hopelessness in the Roma community, a loss of the vision that the conditions under which they live here might somehow improve.

I am sorry that a country such as Canada, which is friendly to us and which is well-known for its tolerant approach toward minorities and its rigorous establishment of a multicultural society, has decided to introduce a visa obligation for citizens of the Czech Republic.

After the first reports surfaced about Canada’s possible renewal of the visa obligation, various speculations appeared in the press, namely, that the cause of the rise in the number of Roma asylum seekers was first and foremost their desire for the economic advantages offered by the Canadian system. While such a possibility cannot be ruled out, it is marginal, in my view. The speculation that the Roma themselves are “organizing” the emigration also cannot be ruled out, but neither my office, nor, as far as I know, the Czech Interior Ministry, has any such information at its disposal. However, one primary cause for the rise in asylum-seekers has essentially been forgotten, and that is the long-term, persistent bias of some elements of the public authorities here vis-?-vis the Roma.

I do not doubt that many positive steps have been taken at government level aimed at creating equal opportunity for the Roma since 1997, when the first comprehensive report on the situation of the Roma in the Czech Republic was released (the so-called Bratinka report). Among these steps, for example, were the creation of the positions of teaching assistants and field social workers, the provision of state subsidies for nonprofit organizations, the anchoring of certain institutions at the national and regional levels, and the adoption of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

However, some problems persist. For example, the transfer of Romani children into normal elementary schools has not been completed, and a large number of them continue to attend schools with specialized, i.e., reduced instruction, the former “special schools”. This reduces their chances to fully integrate into society.

I also see a problem in the application of legislation and state policy at local level. This does not so much concern the application of the letter of the law as it does the content of integration policy. The main aim of the Roma Integration Concept is to achieve conflict-free coexistence between members of the Roma community and the rest of society. However, during the past decade, we have witnessed several marked attempts by local politicians to exploit the “Roma card” to their political advantage and exacerbate the conflict between the Roma and majority society to an unbearable level, as a result of which the Roma are “ejected from the circle”. Many well-known cases can serve as examples here, starting with the wall in Matiční street in Ústí, the so-called “zero tolerance” strategies in Slaný and elsewhere, the “hotel building” in Bohumín, the “solution” to the “gallery building” in Vsetín, or the statements of Senator Janáčková, not to mention the illegal seizure of social welfare disbursements by Mayor Řápková of Chomutov. The aim of all of these populist efforts was for their instigators to be perceived by the majority society as advocates of “us, the decent”, as opposed to “the others”, and all of these efforts were rewarded with electoral success. What is sad is that in this country – unlike in most countries in Western Europe – these acts are committed by local elected politicians from parties which are considered to occupy “normal” parts of the political spectrum, not the extreme right. What is worse, the leadership of these parties does not distance itself from such mayors. On the contrary, it honors them with places on the parliamentary candidate lists as a reward for their “success” in exacerbating ethnic conflicts. The actions taken by the Workers’ Party (Dělnická strana) and by other extremist groups against the Roma in socially excluded localities then become the proverbial “last straw”.

In the interest of objectivity it must be said that many cities and municipalities are implementing balanced, tactful policies with respect to the Roma community. We have noted many good examples, primarily in the locations served by the Agency for Social Inclusion in Roma Localities. There are also many non-profit organizations in the Czech Republic providing comprehensive packages of services to disadvantaged Roma. A significant component of their work, in addition to direct work with clients, is the breaking down of the prejudices and stereotypes which are being transferred from generation to generation and which negatively influence the relationship of the majority society to the Roma minority.

The news that Canada has introduced a visa obligation is not good for the Czech Republic. However, the fact that the Czech government is aware of the situation of the Roma and is expressing the will to exert itself to correct the current state of affairs is a clear statement of its support for the Roma community, for all minorities, and for the idea of a multicultural society. The situation today can only be improved if all elements of the public administration and public authorities, including the local level, implement the main aim of the state policy on Roma integration in a coordinated manner.