Newsroom

Czech Government approves Roma integration plan for 2010-13

The Czech government, on 21st of December 2009, unanimously approved a plan for Romany integration for 2010-2013 submitted by Minister for Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities, Michael Kocab.

This plan contains guidelines for local administration authorities. The main focus is on creating equal work and education opportunities for the Romany minority and preventing their ghettoization.

According to Prime Minister Jan Fischer, the concept was drafted very thoroughly but it is not enough. Now it will be necessary to prepare plans for its implementation on a lower, for instance, municipality level, he said.

"The concept finally answers the question of what precisely should be done," Kocab said, adding that the preparation of the plan meant for him the completion of his work for the Romany community.

According to Minister for Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities, Kocab, the ministries of education, labour and social affairs, the interior and local development have considerably contributed to the preparation of the plan. Apart from the analysis, the document also contains many concrete steps and measures which are recommended to towns and villages, Kocab said.

The plan sets the conditions of work for Romany advisers at local authorities, a post that will be established in 2013. The plan stresses that money should be set aside in the state budget for this purpose in four years. Many Romanies in the Czech Republic live in much worse conditions than the majority society.

The Czech government, proximately, will disseminate this document.