Sněmovna

Czech lower house sees tussle over President's claims that "Black Lives Matter" is a "racist" slogan

8.7.2020 9:01  full story

New Czech Public Defender of Rights is Stanislav Křeček

12.2.2020 18:33  full story

Czech lower house votes for new ombudsman, runoff to be held later today

12.2.2020 15:47  full story

Czech lower house refuses to discuss dismissal of Government Human Rights Commissioner

22.1.2020 18:09  full story

Czech Social Democrats and ultra-nationalists want President's nominee for ombudsman, Christian Democrats question its legality

22.1.2020 14:06  full story

In future, Czech quarterly reports on extremism may mention only settled cases, not ones in progress

4.11.2019 8:18  full story

Czech President and Senate may both nominate former Human Rights Commissioner for Deputy Ombudswoman

2.10.2019 11:02  full story

Czech MP with extreme-right group is evicting Roma onto the street

3.3.2019 11:30  full story

Czech Public Defender of Rights calls for social housing law, says media should stop blaming Roma

13.7.2018 20:40 At the beginning of this month the annual report on the activity of the Office of the Public Defender of Rights, Anna Šabatová, was discussed in the Czech lower house. The report included motions for Government review that Šabatová last managed to bring forward in 2014.
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Czech anti-immigration activist launches book on the premises of the lower house, ultra-conservatives support it

18.3.2018 10:19 Petr Hampl, the anti-immigration and anti-Islam activist and sociologist, has launched his new book about Islam and the alleged "Islamicization" of society on the premises of the Czech Chamber of Deputies. Hampl is known for having publicly expressed support for the father who filmed himself urging his preschool-aged daughter to hit a pillow with a baseball bat while pretending she was hitting a Muslim or a Romani person, and his book launch was attended by the son of former Czech President Václav Klaus and by other MPs.  full story

Czech lower house to hold extraordinary session on proposal to dismiss vice-chair for doubting Holocaust of Roma

5.3.2018 20:23 Czech MPs will convene on Wednesday for an extraordinary session on a proposal to dismiss Czech MP Tomio Okamura ("Freedom and Direct Democracy" - SPD) from his post as vice-chair of the Chamber of Deputies. Czech MP Jan Bartošek, head of the Christian Democratic faction in the lower house, announced the news at a press conference on Friday.  full story

Czech lower house refuses vote about denier of Romani genocide as vice-chair, Christian Democrats call for extraordinary session

28.2.2018 7:40 The Chamber of Deputies decided not to vote on whether to remove the chair of the SPD party, Czech MP Tomio Okamura, from his post as vice-chair of the lower house because of his remarks about the former concentration camp at Lety u Písku. The head of the Christian Democratic (KDU-ČSL) legislators in the lower house, Czech MP Jan Bartošek, did not succeed with his motion to include that point on the agenda yesterday.  full story

Czech lower house committee recommends not expanding ombudsman's powers

1.5.2016 15:04 The Czech lower house may not decide to expand the powers of the Public Defender of Rights (ombudsman) after all, as on 29 April its Constitutional Law Committee recommended supporting amendments that would remove from a proposed Government bill the option for the ombudsman to ask the Constitutional Court to repeal legislation in whole or in part and the option for the ombudsman to bring public interest lawsuits in cases of discrimination. The plenary could decide on the bill this month.  full story

Czech Platform for Human Rights holds seminar on hate violence

10.6.2015 22:43 The Platform for Human Rights, represented by spokespersons František Kostlán (ROMEA), Jana Smiggels Kavková (Czech Women's Lobby), Lucie Otáhalová (La Strada), and ROMEA, o. p. s. invite you intend a seminar on "Human Rights and Hate Violence in the Czech Republic - civil society and policy" on Monday, 15 June from 9:00 to 13:00 at the Chamber of Deputies in Prague (Sněmovní 4, Praha 1, Room No. 108A). The aim of the event is to bring politicians and other attendees a new perspective on the issue of human rights, focusing on the specific areas of discrimination and hate violence, through presentations by experienced people from various nonprofit organizations involved in human rights.  full story

Czech Republic: Negotiations to expand scope of ombud's remit continue in the legislature

Prague, 5.4.2015 1:19, (ROMEA) The Czech lower house did not succumb to efforts by right-wing legislators to reject the Government's bill to expand the remit of the ombud during a first reading. If the bill is adopted, the Public Defender of Rights (the ombud) would receive the right to propose that the Constitutional Court overturn legislation, as well as the right to file lawsuits in cases of discrimination; critics of the change say this would place the institution at the same level as that of the Czech President.  full story

Czech lower house supports ratification of foreigners' rights, except to vote

Prague, 23.1.2015 20:46, (ROMEA) Yesterday during the opening round of negotiations on ratifying the international Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at local level, the Czech lower house expressed support for the Government's proposed approach. Some MPs, however, urged caution regarding ratification of the treaty.  full story