Government wants to broaden powers of ombudsman to oversee anti-discrimination law

The government would like the ombudsman's office to oversee the implementation of a law against discrimination due to be introduced next year. The Czech Republic is required to adopt such legislation as part of its accession to the European Union. If the government plan is approved by both houses of parliament, it would represent a considerable broadening of the powers and remit of the ombudsman's office, which currently only investigates complaints made by individual citizens. Government representatives said they had considered setting up a new anti-discrimination watchdog, before deciding it was a better idea to increase the powers of the ombudsman.