Human Rights Developments

Defending Human Rights

The Role of the International Community

United Nations

In its August concluding observations, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) praised the Tolerance Project, a public awareness campaign to curb racial discrimination. However, the report voiced concern over the continued subjection of Roma to discrimination and violence and urged the government to implement existing hate crime legislation and eradicate racial segregation in education and housing.

European Union

The Czech Republic remained in the forefront among states in line for accession to the E.U. In its September review of the Czech Republic's preparation for accession, the E.U.-Czech Republic Association Council noted that while the Czech Republic continued to fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria, progress was still needed in reforming the judiciary and improving the human rights situation of Roma. Although the E.U. accession process proved a positive incentive on most human rights issues, it pressured Czech authorities to introduce worrisome restrictions on asylum.

Council of Europe

The European Commission on Racism and Intolerance's (ECRI) "Second Annual Report on the Czech Republic" expressed concern about the continuation of racist violence directed toward Roma. The report recommended that Czech authorities take further actions to combat racism and intolerance by enacting anti-racist legislation in education and employment.

United States

At a June hearing before the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), witnesses testified that current laws to protect Roma fall short of their intended goals. These concerns were echoed in the State Department's annual report on human rights practices.

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

The high commissioner on national minorities' March report on the situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE area criticized the Czech government for failing to enforce laws proscribing racially motivated violence, despite having the largest number of skinhead attacks reported in the region. It called on the government to adopt affirmative action measures in employment and to address the persistent negative stereotyping of Roma in the media and in statements.