Government plans to set up special commissioner for Romany affairs

The Strategy for Roma Integration until 2030, approved by the government this week, envisages the setting up of a government commissioner for Roma affairs, a post which should be created in the Czech Republic by the end of next year, the ctk news agency reported.

The latest annual report on the state of the Roma minority says there are about 260,000 Roma in the Czech Republic. About 110,000 of them are living in socially excluded areas.

Roma-related issues are presently dealt with by the government’s commissioner for human rights, who is in charge of national minorities, but according to experts the Roma agenda is too broad and fragmented and needs to be addressed by a special representative. The official should be assisted by a team of experts.