Report: Czech Romanies face general discrimination

In related news, Romanies in the Czech Republic face general discrimination, says a report on the state of the Romany community in 2008 approved by the cabinet on Monday. The document, compiled by Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Michael Kocáb, comes less than a week after Canada brought back visas for Czech citizens due to an increasing number of Czech Romanies seeking asylum in that country. The report also highlights a surge in right-wing extremism, poor economic conditions of Romanies and family ties with those who had left earlier, as reasons why Czech Romanies increasingly seek asylum in Canada. Mr Kocáb said a strategy to fight social exclusion of Romany communities should be ready by October.

Author: Jan Richter