The Czech Republic holds asylum applicants in facilities with unsuitable conditions for too long, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has written in its latest report.
Geneva, Switzerland, Aug 30 (CTK) – The Czech Republic holds asylum applicants in facilities with unsuitable conditions for too long, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has written in its latest report.
The committee writes about the spreading of prejudices and stereotypes about refugees and asylum applicants in the Czech Republic, especially among young people. It writes about attacks against those who defend the rights of foreigners.
The U.N. expressed concern about Islamophobia preached by groups such as We Don’t Want Islam in the Czech Republic, which is allegedly openly supported by some politicians.
Czech media put too strong emphasis on ethnic origin and nationality in reports on crime committed by people who do not belong to the majority society, the U.N. committee said in the report released on Friday.
It claims that the Czech state issues orders for the extradition of immigrants without valid identity documents even before registering their applications for asylum.
The U.N. report criticises the country for a high number of ethnic Romanies living in ghettos. In 2005, 60,000 to 80,000 Romanies lived in 330 ghettos in 167 municipalities, while last year 95,000 to 115,000 Romanies lived in 606 ghettos in 297 municipalities, according to the report.
The life in ghettos has negative impact on the employment of Romanies, their living conditions, health care and other services and education, the report warns.
The committee recommends that the Czech government punish municipalities that segregate Romanies or discriminate against them.
It points to the extremely high unemployment among Romanies, especially women and young people. Romany employment should be supported both in the public and private sectors, the report writes.
Segregation of Romany children in schools continues to be a big problem, it says.
The government should take all possible measures to educate Romany children in standard classes along with all the other students, and it should face the negative attitude towards Romany children among teachers, educational institutions and non-Romany children and their parents, the committee writes.
The U.N. committee welcomed that the Czech Republic recently introduced a strategy for Romany integration until 2020 and a strategy for migration policy.
However, it said the country does not have enough reliable social and economic data concerning ethnic minorities and foreigners. The committee also said the powers of the ombudsman were too limited.
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