OSCE human rights chief calls on Czech authorities to address segregation and social exclusion to help prevent anti-Roma incidents
Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed concern over recent extremist demonstrations and attempted attacks on Roma residents in České Budějovice and Duchcov in the Czech Republic.
Lenarčič said there is an indication that the problems facing the Roma minority in the Czech Republic have yet to be addressed at their core.
“The measures taken by the Czech police to protect all citizens show that authorities have the resolve to prevent further escalation of racist violence and manifestations of hatred,” said Lenarčič. “I am, however, very concerned about the significant support far-right activists have enjoyed from ordinary citizens. This is an indication that the problems facing the Roma minority have yet to be addressed at their core.”
“I have discussed these issues with the Czech authorities before, especially the persistence of segregation in education and the divisions it causes within Czech society. I urge the authorities to urgently consider steps to address these issues,” Lenarčič said.
Experts, NGOs and media have raised concerns that further anti-Roma demonstrations are being planned by extremist groups for 24 August in nine towns in throughout the country and by the Workers Social Justice Party on 14 September in Varnsdorf, and may test the limits of the Czech police. ODIHR has been closely following the developments in the Czech Republic after similar incidents in North Bohemia in 2011 and conducted a field assessment visit last year to examine Roma children’s access to education.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
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