Czech Republic

Commentary: The mythical "decent gypsies" of the Czech Republic

Prague, 14.3.2014 17:39, (ROMEA) Everyone who isn't a racist knows a few decent gypsies - at least, that's what I read in internet discussions and that's what I hear from friends and strangers alike: "I'm not a racist, I even know a couple of decent gypsies..." I hear and read this so often that it has led me to reflect on who this mythical "couple of gypsies" really are, these people who are mentioned by anyone and everyone who is just about to pronounce some more racist nonsense.  full story

Commentary: Czech media exaggerate significance of crimes involving Roma

Prague, 14.3.2014 2:58, (ROMEA) Hundreds of serious violent crimes, including murders, are committed annually in the Czech Republic, but during the past few months no other case has received as much media coverage as that of a nighttime conflict between several drunken citizens in the small northern town of Duchcov. Everyone involved in the incident, including the state prosecutor, agrees that the conflict resulted not just in grave physical harm but, as both the state prosecutor and the attorney for the victims agree, it resulted in grave psychological harm to one of the victims, who has been prevented from returning to normal life for some time now.  full story

Analysis: If the Czech state buys residential hotels, only the traffickers in poverty will win

Prague, 13.3.2014 22:10, (ROMEA) Deputy Ombud Stanislav Křeček believes that the Czech state should start running residential hotels because they represent an immoral business that no one else can fix. That sounds logical, overall - we do have this problem here, and the state should see to its solution  full story

European Court pressuring Czech Govt to compensate Romani women sterilized without their consent

Prague, 13.3.2014 21:10, (ROMEA) The Czech daily Právo reports that five years ago, the Fischer cabinet expressed regret on behalf of the Czech Government for what has happened to women who have been sterilized without their consent, but the women do not consider that sort of moral satisfaction sufficient and are asking for financial compensation as well. Those who have not succeeded in the Czech courts have turned to the European Court for Human Rights.  full story

Commentary: Czech tabloids spark antigypsyism online and off

Česká Lípa, 12.3.2014 19:48, (ROMEA) "A good gypsy = No gypsy. Or ZYKLON B" writes Facebook user Jiří Buldok Hrubý.  full story

Czech Human Rights Minister to push for right to nursery school, social housing

Prague, 11.3.2014 18:18, (ROMEA) Czech Minister for Human Rights and Legislation Jiří Dienstbier (Czech Social Democratic Party - ČSSD) wants to push for the right to social housing, equal access to education, increased powers for the ombud, and every child's right to a place in daycare or preschool. He also wants to concentrate on the fight against poverty and changing the rules governing collections procedures.  full story

Czech petition protests Romani people near mall in Hradec Králové

Hradec Králové, 11.3.2014 17:26, (ROMEA) Some citizens of the Czech town of Hradec Králové are reportedly bothered by the presence of Romani people near the Atrium mall. The manager of the shopping center was the first to send a letter to the town hall asking them to do something about it.  full story

European Centre for Roma Music producing "Gypsy Rhapsody"

Prague, 10.3.2014 21:45, (ROMEA) On 24 March, the European Centre for Roma Music (ECRM) and the New Stage (Nová scéna) of the National Theater in Prague will premiere a dance and music performance entitled "Gypsy Rhapsody" (Cikánská rapsodie) inspired by Czech author Bohumil Hrabal. The piece was created in honor of what would have been the late author's 100th birthday.  full story

Czech Deputy Ombud says state should run residential hotels for the needy

Prague, 10.3.2014 20:48, (ROMEA) Deputy Ombud Stanislav Křeček believes the residential hotels in which the needy are now ending up throughout the Czech Republic should be run by the state. The facilities should be taken away from private individual owners and should be run as nonprofits offering acceptable housing.  full story

Czech court postpones announcing verdict in case that sparked 2013 anti-Roma unrest

Ústí nad Labem, 10.3.2014 18:10, (ROMEA) Today the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem postponed until 19 March its proclamation of the verdict in the case of last year's brutal assault on a married couple in Duchcov (Teplice district). Presiding Judge Jana Kurešová informed the press that the court wants to review additional evidence.  full story

Czech hooligans and neo-Nazis went to Kiev to fight

Kiev/Prague, 6.3.2014 19:40, (ROMEA) News server Novinky.cz reports that two football hooligans who are fans of Slavia Prague left the Czech Republic at the end of February heading for the center of anti-government unrest in the capital of Ukraine. They joined the neo-Nazi "Right Sector" movement in Kiev, which espouses the legacy of Stepan Bandera, a radical 20th-century fighter for Ukrainian independence.  full story

Czech town files criminal report over rumors that thousands of Roma are moving in

Kladno, 6.3.2014 19:08, (ROMEA) The town of Kladno has filed a report of criminal activity by an unidentified perpetrator over the alleged dissemination of rumors that Romani people will be moving into several neighborhoods there. The town leadership is of the opinion that someone is intentionally spreading untrue information about the planned move of thousands of so-called "inadaptables" to the town.  full story

ERTF: Czech Republic failing Roma under the European Social Charter

Strasbourg, France, 5.3.2014 13:38, (ROMEA) The European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) announced today that it has filed a collective complaint against the Czech Republic with the European Committee of Social Rights, which is responsible for ensuring that States comply with the provisions of the European Social Charter.  full story

Czech Gov't plans social housing law, redress for victims of illegal sterilizations

Prague, 3.3.2014 21:06, (ROMEA) Social housing should begin to function in the Czech Republic as of 2017. The law regulating it should take effect by the end of 2016, according to the Government's preliminary plans.  full story

Czech Police confiscate three Czech-Roma flags from art exhibit

Prague, 3.3.2014 17:16, (ROMEA) On the afternoon of 27 February, the Police of the Czech Republic confiscated three of the seven exhibits of Czech-Roma flags that are currently on display at the Art Space gallery, which is run by Prague's Anglo-American University. The flags were being exhibited there as part of the "Selection Procedure for Czech-Roma Flag" project, which was presented from June to September 2013 at the outdoor Artwall gallery in Prague.  full story

Czech Republic: Counter-protesters outnumber neo-Nazis in Plzeň

Plzeň, 1.3.2014 20:01, (ROMEA) Approximately 70 neo-Nazis marched through the center of the Czech city of Plzeň today. The event was announced to local officials as a march for "upholding the rights of all decent citizens of this country and protesting the financing of the anti-Czech, racist ROMEA civic association by the Government of the Czech Republic."  full story

Czech Republic: Simultaneous neo-Nazi demos in Ostrava and Plzeň

Ostrava/Plzeň, 1.3.2014 19:14, (ROMEA) Today approximately 70 neo-Nazis passed through Plzeň during an event announced as a march to uphold the rights of all "decent citizens" of the Czech Republic and to protest the ROMEA organization. The neo-Nazis set out at 14:45 from Republika Square and marched down Františkánská, Martinská, Americká and Tylova Streets to Emil Škoda Square.  full story

Czech Republic: "Change for Plzeň" to counter-protest neo-Nazis tomorrow

Plzeň, 28.2.2014 21:20, (ROMEA) "Change for Plzeň" (Změna pro Plzeň) will participate in Saturday's civil "Happening for a Society without Prejudice", as it considers it a moral norm characteristic of a mature democracy for a political party to express a clear position against destabilizing tendencies in society. News server Romea.cz publishes the party's statement on tomorrow's march by right-wing extremists in full translation below:  full story

Jarmila Balážová to become spokesperson for Czech Human Rights Minister

Prague, 28.2.2014 20:47, (ROMEA) Jarmila Balážová, the chair of the administrative board of ROMEA, o.p.s. and the editor-in-chief of the monthly Romano voďi, is leaving those positions after 12 years. She will become the spokesperson for Jiří Dienstbier, Minister of Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation who chairs the Czech Government's Legislative Council, and will also manage a government department.  full story

Czech Gov't Agency for Social Inclusion may get more money and power

Prague, 28.2.2014 19:02, (ROMEA) The Czech Government Agency for Social Inclusion could have a stronger position in the future and perhaps even more money from the state. Czech Human Rights Minister Jiří Dienstbier (Czech Social Democratic Party - ČSSD) is making such plans.  full story