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Czech PM promises Council of Europe to address root causes of Roma discrimination

18 March 2014
3 minute read

In
a letter to
Czech PM Bohuslav Sobotka, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of
Europe, Nils Muižnieks, recently expressed concern over anti-Romani events and
rhetoric in the Czech Republic. In his reply, the
Czech PM now says his government will be standing up to discrimination and violence
against Romani people and will do its best to address the root causes of their
marginalization in the Czech Republic.

The
Council of Europe reported on the exchange of letters today. Muižnieks wrote to
Sobotka at the end of February and the PM responded yesterday.

“I should like
to share with you my deep concern about the pattern that emerges from these
events. Many of them are led by racist extremist groups and are organized
simultaneously in many localities across the country… the increased frequency of
these events and the consistent targeting of Roma call for a more comprehensive
response by your authorities,” Muižnieks writes, adding that, “Reports indicate that no less than 22 Roma
became victims of last year’s attacks.”

The Human
Rights Commissioner believes the Czech authorities should effectively punish
organizations promoting racial discrimination and ban demonstrations in Romani
neighborhoods should there be indications that those participating want to
march on those neighborhoods to target the Romani community. Given the “widespread
discrimination and violence against Roma”, Muižnieks called for “overarching efforts to promote tolerance…
throughout the majority population… In this context, I would like to stress the
essential role played by politicians’ rhetoric and action at national and local
level in the efforts to eradicate anti-Gypsyism and promote respect for human
rights and social cohesion.”

Sobotka
emphasized that “building a tolerant society” is one of his government’s
priorities and said it will be standing up to “any form of violence, hostility or
discrimination, such as anti-Gypsyism.” The letter states that he is also determined
to focus on “the root causes of the marginalization and discrimination of Roma
in the Czech Republic.”

The
PM also says his cabinet is designing a national strategy for Roma integration
covering the period up to 2020. In his view, “It is also essential to deal with
the frustration experienced by a part of Czech society caused by current
difficult socioeconomic conditions.”

The
letter also acknowledges that it is essential for officials to state that it is
unacceptable to air such emotions through anti-Roma demonstrations and marches.
Sobotka expressed his appreciation for the good example set by the city council
of České Budějovice, which “in August 2013… repeatedly banned a notified
demonstration after coming to the conclusion that the underlying aim of the
event was to encourage violent and illegal behavior.”

The
PM expressed the hope that other Czech towns “will find the courage to ban and
dissolve such demonstrations.” He stated that the Czech Government would fully
support local governments in so doing and that the Czech Republic would
continue to cooperate with international organizations in this regard, mentioning
that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which is part of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, would be monitoring
planned demonstrations in the country.

The
Council of Europe, which focuses primarily on upholding human rights, has long criticized
the position of the Romani minority in the Czech Republic. In February 2013 Muižnieks
published a report on
the Czech Republic calling for greater efforts to improve the position of
Romani people there.

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