Roma segregation, refugees, and climate: Amnesty flags concerns in Czechia
The latest Amnesty International report points to persistent human rights challenges in Czechia. These include segregation in education, growing pressure on refugee integration, and controversial arms exports. Climate policy, or rather the lack-off it, is also emerging as a key human rights issue.
Segregation of Roma children remains unresolved
The latest annual report by Amnesty International points to a number of persistent human rights challenges in Czechia. Among the most entrenched is the situation of Roma children in the education system — an issue that has been debated for years but remains far from resolved, says AI's spokesperson Martina Nejedlá:
“We still have more than 130 primary schools that are segregated. At the same time, the authorities have introduced a plan to support desegregation and prevent children from being placed in special schools because of their ethnicity or social disadvantage. But it is sad that even today we still have to talk about this problem. One hundred and thirty segregated schools in the Czech Republic is still a lot.”
The figure underlines how deeply rooted the problem is. While government measures adopted in late 2025 aim to improve the situation, Amnesty suggests that progress has been slow and uneven. Segregation in education not only limits opportunities for Roma children, but also reinforces broader social inequalities that continue into adulthood.
The issue is not new. Human rights organisations have been documenting it for more than a decade, and yet it remains one of the clearest examples of systemic inequality in Czech society.
From protection to integration
The report also highlights a shift in the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Czechia. In the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country was widely praised for offering swift and generous protection to those fleeing the war. Today, however, the focus has moved from emergency assistance to long-term integration — and according to Martina Nejedlá, this is where new challenges are emerging.
“At the beginning of the war, the state was relatively welcoming and people had access to temporary protection. But now we see growing challenges in integration, for example in access to housing, education or stable employment. At the same time, there are xenophobic attitudes and even attacks. The issue today is less about protection and more about ensuring long-term equal living conditions.”
According to Amnesty, the changing nature of the problem reflects a broader reality: providing refuge is only the first step. Ensuring that people can build stable lives — with access to housing, education, and the labour market — is a much longer and more complex process.
The report also warns that public discourse may be complicating these efforts. Disinformation and hostile rhetoric, including from some political figures, risk undermining integration and shaping negative attitudes toward refugees.
Arms exports under scrutiny
Another issue raised in the report concerns Czech arms exports, particularly to countries involved in ongoing conflicts. Amnesty has repeatedly called for stricter oversight and greater transparency in this area.
“We are mainly talking about transfers to Israel, where there is a clear risk they can be used against civilians and human rights. From our point of view, this is very irresponsible and goes against the Arms Trade Treaty, which the Czech Republic is part of. We are calling on all states to stop these transfers because they can lead to serious human rights abuses.”
The criticism reflects a broader debate about how countries balance economic, strategic, and ethical considerations in foreign policy. While arms exports are a legitimate part of international trade, Amnesty argues that they must be strictly limited when there is a risk they could contribute to violations of international law.
In the Czech case, the issue has also raised questions about transparency, oversight, and the role of government institutions in approving such transfers.
Climate as a human rights issue
The Amnesty report also places growing emphasis on environmental policy, framing climate change as a human rights issue. This reflects a wider global shift in how environmental challenges are understood — not just as ecological or economic concerns, but as fundamental to human well-being, says Martina:
“The report highlights the right to a healthy environment. With the climate crisis, it is crucial to adopt a framework climate law, but the Czech government has not done this yet. At the same time, we see steps that weaken environmental protection, and from a human rights perspective this can be very dangerous for the future.”
According to Amnesty, the absence of a comprehensive climate law leaves key targets and commitments without a strong legal foundation. Environmental groups have also raised concerns about political signals suggesting weaker protections and continued reliance on fossil fuels.
A familiar set of problems — and a warning
Taken together, the findings in the Amnesty report paint a picture of a country that has made progress in some areas, but continues to struggle with a number of structural issues.
From segregation in schools to the integration of refugees, from arms exports to climate policy, many of the challenges identified are not new. What is striking, however, is their persistence — and in some cases, the sense that progress has stalled.
The report suggests that addressing these issues will require more than isolated policy changes. It points instead to the need for sustained political commitment, stronger legal frameworks, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable realities.
Without that, Amnesty warns, long-standing problems risk becoming further entrenched — shaping not only the present, but also the future direction of Czech society.
about programme
Czechast, Radio Prague International
Czechast is a regular RPI podcast about Czech and Moravian culture, history, and economy.
