The ombudsman and the government representative will teach the Roma to defend themselves against discrimination

On today’s International Roma Day, the ombudsman together with the government representative for the affairs of the Roma minority launched a multi-part series on social networks. In it, they want to explain to Roma how to recognize discrimination and how to defend against it.

„On today’s International Roma Day, we wish all Roma not to have to deal with discrimination. Unfortunately, however, we know from the people who contact us that many Roma still face discrimination. We have therefore jointly prepared a multi-part Facebook series in which we will explain to Roma how to recognize prohibited discrimination and how to defend against it,said Ombudsman Stanislav Křeček and Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková.

Roma will also learn in the series which reasons for discrimination and which areas of life are prohibited by law. We will show them how to defend themselves in such cases. We advise what to do if they become a witness or a victim of prejudicial hate speech (also referred to as hate speech and hate crime).

What can be discrimination?

The employer did not accept the job applicant because he is Roma. That is discrimination.

Discrimination is also when the municipality refused to rent an apartment to a woman because she is Romani.

And when the headmaster didn’t want to admit boys to the school because they are Roma, that’s also discrimination. The court also confirmed it.

„I am glad that this year, on International Roma Day, we are one step closer to a society that can solve the issue of discrimination against Roma. The government should approve a definition of anti-gypsyism that helps raise awareness of the various forms of discrimination, prejudice and hatred that Roma face in their daily lives. It is an important symbolic gesture for the whole society, but also a tool that will help in specific life situations. Above all, it is a clear statement that anti-Roma attitudes have no place here,” said Fuk.

The first part of the series also deals with the definition of anti-Cycanism.