Czech Romanies' position on society margins not changing much

Romanies, who have lived in the Czech Lands for 600 years, have suffered most in modern history by the Holocaust and forced assimilation under the Communist regime that started with the law on the permanent settlement of migrating persons that took effect on November 11, 1958.

Under the law the migrating persons could be punished with imprisonment until 1990, shortly after the fall of the Communist regime in late 1989.

It was deleted from the valid legal order ten years ago.

Assimilation was tantamount to the adaptation of Romanies to the image of "a proper working citizen" and denial of their ethnic identity.

The consequences in the form of ghettos prevail to date.

The position of Romanies on the margins of society have not changed much in the democratic conditions that were introduced after 1989 and the transition to the market economy.

Their insufficient education and low qualification brings them high unemployment and poverty. They are faced with violence and racial intolerance of extremists and everyday discrimination.

It is estimated that 250,000 to 350,000 Romanies live in the ten million Czech Republic. However, a mere 11,746 people claimed Romany nationality in the latest census in 2001.

Some 300 excluded localities exist in the Czech Republic. They are home to some 100,000 Romanies.

In spite of the effort of the state administration and self-rule bodies, the number of Romanies living in sub-standard living conditions has been rising just as tension between the majority society and inhabitants of the socially excluded localities.

A sad example has been the tense situation in the Janov housing estate at Litvinov, north Bohemia, where some 4500 Romanies live.

The police recently prevented rightist extremists from entering the development. In accompanying clashes four people, including three policemen, were injured.

The extremists threatened to return to Janov.

Another infamous ghetto is Chanov at Most, also north Bohemia, where some 2000 Romanies live.

The Agency for social inclusion of Romany localities that is within the jurisdiction of Minister Dzamila Stehlikova and that was founded this year is to help gradually abolish the ghettos.

Since statistics do not know the term "Romany," Romanies’ unemployment can only by estimated. The Concept of Romany Integration from 2005 put the unemployment rate at 45 to 50 percent. Romanies constitute about 75 percent of the long-term unemployed. In some localities Romany unemployment reaches 95 to 100 percent.

According to a survey by GAC company for Civic Society Development Foundation, about one third of Romany children end up in special schools.

Over 160 preparatory classes help Romany children gain necessary skills and improve their bad Czech before they start attending elementary school. Up to 80 percent of these children start to attend ordinary elementary schools.

According to the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), about 36 percent of Romany children in the Czech Republic have elementary education, about 16 percent are apprenticed and 5 percent of Romany pupils complete secondary education. Roughly one out of 300 Romanies acquires a university degree.

The Czechs’ attitudes towards Romanies have been stable for several years. According to a STEM poll from April, about two thirds of people in the Czech Republic feel a negative relation or antipathy to Romanies, one fifth of people perceive Romanies like the other fellow citizens and only every 25th Czech claims a good relationship to Romanies.