Commissioner: 275 Roma forced sterilisation victims compensated to date

The Czech government commissioner for Roma affairs, Lucie Fuková, says that 275 victims of forced sterilisation have received compensation. In the last year the Ministry of Health received 630 applications for such compensation and processed three-quarters of them.

Last year Roma and human rights organisations complained that officials only recognised health service documentation as evidence.

The government’s human rights commissioner, Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, said recently that a broadening of the criteria was being considered.

Ms. Fuková said she planned to speak with her Slovak counterpart about possible compensation for interventions performed in Slovakia during the time of the common state.