Czech Republic

Czech trial of two Romani men charged with throwing paving stones at their neighbors

Plzeň, 20.8.2014 1:45, (ROMEA) Yesterday the Regional Court in Plzeň began reviewing the case of 20-year-old David Matuš and his 34-year-old uncle, Radek Matuš, who have been charged with attacking their neighbors this past March in the town of Strýčkovice (Domažlice district). The two Romani men, who according to the indictment attacked their neighbors with paving stones and rocks and threatened to kill them, face up to five years in prison if convicted.  full story

Czech hospitals refuse medical records to women sterilized against their will

Prague, 19.8.2014 18:35, (ROMEA) Several hospitals in the Czech Republic are reportedly refusing to give women who were sterilized in their facilities without their informed consent the medical records of those procedures. In some cases records are said to no longer exist because they were destroyed during recent floods.  full story

Czech con artist who organized anti-Romani protest to serve 10 months in prison

Česká Lípa, 18.8.2014 18:17, (ROMEA) The notorious con artist Lukáš Kohout must serve the remaining 10 months of the 28-month prison sentence he received after he was convicted of having impersonated an assistant to then-Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, also the chair of the UN General Assembly, and flying to exotic countries during 2002 with state money. The decision of the District Court in Česká Lípa has taken effect.  full story

videoCzech Republic: Prague Pride attended by 17 000, including Roma

Prague, 17.8.2014 2:34, (ROMEA) The LGBT pride parade that marched through Prague from Wenceslas Square to the Letná Park on Saturday, 16 August was attended by anywhere between 15 000 and 17 000 well-wishers of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community, a slight decline from last year's numbers. Bohdana Rambousková, speaking on behalf of the organizers, told the Czech News Agency that the lower attendance was evidently influenced by the weather.  full story

Czech Republic: Romani film festival Čačikano coming to Prague

Prague, 16.8.2014 0:11, (ROMEA) This fall the Světozor cinema in Prague will be welcoming the first-ever year of the Čačikano film festival (www.cacikano.cz), which focuses on Romani themes. The festival will take place on 26 and 27 September 2014.  full story

videoVIDEO: Assembly against racism in front of the residential hotel in Děčín

Děčín, 15.8.2014 18:50, (ROMEA) In Děčín an anti-Romani demonstration took place on 13 August 2014 that was convened by Lukáš Kohout, who has been convicted of fraud several times. About 200 people turned up on the town square for that event, while in front of a residential hotel in Zelená Street about 50 people gathered for an assembly against racism.  full story

Come help us with Romea.cz! ROMEA seeks journalists

Prague, 15.8.2014 0:04, (ROMEA) We are looking for journalists who would like to help us improve the contant of news server Romea.cz and contribute to the magazine Romano voďi. Applicants should also be able to place pieces with other media outlets as well.  full story

Mário Rusenko: Romale, we've had enough, it's time to unite

Děčín/Prague, 14.8.2014 17:53, (ROMEA) The demonstration held by Lukáš Kohout yesterday in Děčín became a farce. Kohout didn't have sound equipment and not many people turned out, just a couple of his supporters and other people who there just to watch.  full story

Czech organizer of anti-Romani demonstration gets plenty of criticism online

Děčín/Prague, 14.8.2014 16:28, (ROMEA) Yesterday the Czech town of Děčín witnessed yet another anti-Romani demonstration involving a march through the town organized by Lukáš Kohout, who has been convicted of fraud more than once. As of yesterday before noon, almost 500 people had responded to the Facebook event announcing the demonstration to say they would be attending; in the end 200 people made it there.  full story

Czech LGBT festival to feature Romani evening

Prague, 14.8.2014 4:01, (ROMEA) On Friday, 15 August, an evening called "Hot Chocolate" will take place as part of the Prague Pride festival, focusing on the issue of LGBT people in the Romani community. The event will offer an exhibition of photographs, music, a debate, fortune-telling and a counseling center.  full story

Czech Police charge two participants in anti-Romani demonstration in Děčín

Děčín, 14.8.2014 0:02, (ROMEA) Police have charged two participants in today's anti-Romani demonstration in Děčín. One faces charges of making criminal threats, while the other is charged with defamation on the basis of convictions, a nation or a race.  full story

Karel Holomek: The fundamental problem remaining for social inclusion in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic, 13.8.2014 23:26, (ROMEA) The Social Inclusion Department at the Office of the Czech Government, otherwise know as the Agency, is preparing many new proposals for the Government as part of the program of the Strategy for the Fight against Social Exclusion until 2020. New measures and proposals are turning up that testify, at the very least, to the fact that all of the programs to date have not encountered results equivalent to the effort expended on them.  full story

Czech Republic: 200 gather for anti-Romani demonstration, Roma assemble as well

Děčín, 13.8.2014 18:58, (ROMEA) Today in the Czech town of Děčín an anti-Romani demonstration was held by Lukáš Kohout, who has been convicted several times of fraud. The Facebook event announcing the demonstration garnered almost 500 pledges to attend.  full story

Czech con artist gets conned by "volunteer" during anti-Romani demonstration

Děčín, 13.8.2014 21:42, (ROMEA) The notorious con artist Lukáš Kohout organized an anti-Romani demonstration in the town of Děčín today. As news servers iDNES.cz and Romea.cz reported, he had no sound equipment available.  full story

Prague Pride 2014 offers 100+ events and support for the LGBT community in Eastern Europe

Prague, 12.8.2014 20:54, (ROMEA) A total of 117 cultural, social and sports events are featured on the program of the Fourth Annual Prague Pride festival, which focuses on the topic of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues between 11 and 17 August 2014 (the full program is here). Organizers have decided to invite gays and lesbians from Eastern European countries whose rights are being suppressed by their regimes or by conservatism in society to participate by proxy in the parade.  full story

Karel Holomek: When remembrance is out of joint

Brno, 12.8.2014 19:27, (ROMEA) The month of August here is traditionally linked with commemorating the victims of the Roma Holocaust, unfortunately usually only in Roma circles. Of course, this occasion is also marked in the official circles of government and state, but that is not the same thing as being marked by society.  full story

Czech Labor Ministry taking social criteria into account during tenders

Prague, 12.8.2014 17:54, (ROMEA) The Czech Labor and Social Affairs Ministry (MPSV) signed on several months ago to a concept for responsible public procurement that views it as a tool to enhance employment, social cohesion and sustainability. Now maintenance work in the ministry's Prague headquarters is being performed by people from the Sociální podnik Černý most, s. r. o. (Černý most Social Enterprise).  full story

Commentary: Freedom of speech vs. Holocaust denial

Prague, 12.8.2014 3:33, (ROMEA) After the revolutions of 1989, freedom speech became a "sacred right" in the new democracies of the post-communist world. This was hardly suprising.  full story

Czech Republic: Police apprehend all assailants in Děčín incident

Prague, 11.8.2014 23:03, (ROMEA) Since last Thursday the criminal prosecutions of another two men have begun who are thought to have contributed to the brutal assault in front of the Calipso gaming room in Děčín on 30 July. The men have been charged with rioting and failing to provide first aid and were released on their own recognizance; they face up to two years in prison if convicted.  full story

Czech Gov't approves change for nonprofits, longer-term state financing will be available

Prague, 11.8.2014 21:24, (ROMEA) The Government of the Czech Republic approved at its session on 6 August a change to the "Government Principles for Providing Subsidies from the State Budget of the Czech Republic to Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organisations by the Central Bodies of the State Admininstration" that was submitted by Minister for Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation Jiří Dienstbier, who also chairs the Czech Government Council for Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organisations. The change will make it possible for ministries to conclude contracts with NNOs on long-term cooperation that will guarantee them financing in the years to come under certain conditions.  full story