Category Archives: Czech Republic

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czech Republic and Roma Education

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In 2007, the European Court of Human Rights, in a ground-breaking decision, condemned the Czech Republic for discriminating against Roma pupils in their access to education.

However, the Czech Republic continues to discriminate against Roma children in education in spite of this condemnation. Recent statistics show that 15% of Roma children are educated outside of the regular school system (i.e. special schools) whereas for the majority population, this is the case only for 3% of the children.

So there are still special schools in addition to at least 130 segregated ones.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Prague and Roma History

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Jana Kokyová, chairwoman of the Roma Holocaust Compensation Committee, recalled the tragic fate of the Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust at a memorial meeting in Prague-Ruzyn on the 11th of March. In her speech, she emphasized that almost 90% of the Czech Roma and Sinti were exterminated and that this chapter of history is still neglected. She pointed to personal family experiences with Nazism and expressed concern that history might repeat itself. She criticized the insufficient representation of Roma history in school curricula and called for the support of educational programs that would help build a fairer and more tolerant society. At the same time, she drew attention to the current increase in extremism and the need for financial support for the Roma and Sinti Centre to continue its important work.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czech President on Roma

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Czech President Petr Pavel commented about Roma in his speech Deník na Kladno.  On Wednesday, he visited the Vinařice prison, where the majority of Roma prisoners are. He thought about why that was.

He stated: “We have fifteen primary schools here, two of which are racially segregated, almost all the children are Roma. I think we will not move on until the majority realizes that the integration of Roma is an important long-term task of the Czech Republic. And until we get Roma for the task as well.”

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Vodaphone and Roma

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Vodafone has joined the scholarship program for Roma students, which is implemented by the ROMEA organization. With this step, Vodafone wants to support equal opportunities and fight against discrimination against Roma in the Czech Republic, which has long been criticized by the Council of Europe. Vodafone contributed one hundred thousand crowns to scholarships for Roma students of secondary, higher vocational and university schools, who face many obstacles in achieving a quality education. The scholarship program offers them not only financial support, but also mentoring, mutual meetings, advice, educational activities and internships in organizations or companies, including Vodafone.

Well done!

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czechia: Exhibition

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An exhibition in the 400 ASA gallery showcases pictures taken by young Roma from two Roma settlements.

A must see.

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Pilsen, Czechia

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The Pilsen Roma Council is a project financed by Norwegian funds. Its aim is to get Roma involved in the events in the region thanks. “The idea of how to ensure the participation of Roma at the city level led me to establish the Pilsen Roma Council. How to bring together a group of people that represents the majority. Pilsen is a city founded on great families,” David Tišer explains the motives behind the founding of the Council.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Prague, a School, and Minorities

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The story of a school in a district of Prague that has a high percentage of Roma and Ukrainians. The city council considers the school to be segregated (as it has a large number of Roma), and wants to transform the school into a Waldorf system.

The parents disagree…

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Jan Bendig

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The romano singer Jan Bendig has spoken out after four days of silence since the police said the attack in Český slavík, where he was pelted with flour by an alleged racist, was staged. He posted a lengthy statement on his Facebook profile in which he apologizes for his silence, denies that the attack was premeditated and explains what he believes happened. However, his words contradict what the police investigation found.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czechia: Photographs

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An exhibition of photographs taken by young Roma from Roma settlements is being shown in Prague 400ASA gallery. They are the results of workshops with the Roma youngsters.

Well done!

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Vsetin and Roma

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In 2006, the city of Vsetín turned to the Constitutional Court (ÚS) in the case of Roma eviction. The Supreme Court (NS) recently increased the compensation to several Roma families who had to move out of Vsetín. Four families with 46 NS members were awarded compensation from the city in the aggregate amount of 1.825 million crowns, the management of the Vsetín town hall considers unfair.

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Czechia: Fake Attack

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The police stated that the attack on the Romano singer Jan Bendig in November, when he was sprinkled with flour on Český slavíkov, was staged to draw attention to himself. The attack was initially perceived as racist. Bendig now faces a fine of up to fifty thousand crowns. On the social network, the singer is sharply condemned for lying, for example by politician Matěj Gregor.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czechia and Roma

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Report on the state of the Roma minority in the Czech Republic for the year 2022

On February 14, 2024, the Government of the Czech Republic approved the Report on the Status of the Roma Minority in the Czech Republic for 2022. The appointment of the historically first government representative for the affairs of the Roma minority, Lucie Fuková was one of the highlights. Other than that, small progress, but lots to do.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czechia, Romanes, and Integration

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Around 250,000 Roma live in the Czech Republic, but not all of them speak Romanes. A large number of families do not speak Romanes with their preschool children, believing that this will make it easier for them to start school.

The main goal of the Roma Council is to support the strengthening of the identity and position of the Roma in the Pilsen region and to create tools for their effective integration.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czechia, Roma, and the Police

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David Drevňák, a thirty-two-year-old Rom, received the Award of the Jihlava City Council for his many years of work with Roma youth and cultural contribution. He works as a crime prevention assistant with the city police. “There are situations that the constable can handle, but another conflict may arise. We, Roma assistants, say it in our own way with people with our Roma mentality,” says Drevňák.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czechia: Romanes and Schools

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What do Romanes speakers encounter when their children enter education? Are kindergartens and schools ready to work with foreign language children? The issue is currently being invstigated by research carried out by the Romanes Studies Seminar of the Faculty of, supported by the program for the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czechia and the Anti-Roma Racism Working Definition

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The Senate Committee on Human Rights today unanimously endorsed the International Holocaust Alliance (IHRA)  working definition of anti-gypsyism as discrimination against Roma. The definition, like anti-Semitism, names a specific form of racism that Roma people face because of their ethnic origin, culture or lifestyle. According to committee chairman Jiří Růžička (for TOP 09), the definition adopted by the Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs on Monday is not legally binding.

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Miss Roma 2024

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Twelve finalists were chosen from more than sixty registered girls from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and even Ireland, who will fight for the title of Roma beauty queen. This competition, which is being held for the twenty-second time, aims to support the self-confidence and pride of Roma girls, to show their beauty and talent, and at the same time to bring Roma culture and traditions closer to the general public.

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