In May 2006, Partners organized a two-day meeting in Chomutov, Czech Republic for a group of 25 Roma and non-Roma Conciliation Commission members from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. These nine inter-ethnic Commissions mediate community disputes, improving cross-cultural communication and promoting tolerance among diverse local populations.

The meeting’s central purpose was to provide a forum for members to exchange ideas, future visions, and strategies for expanding Commission work. Members enthusiastically discussed best practices in fostering inter-ethnic cooperation, and other issues critical to the sustainability of vibrant Conciliation Commissions.

Mr. Dan Doghi, of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights; Deputy Secretary Richard C. Hinman of the U.S. Embassy in Prague; and Roma Integration Program’s Regional Coordinator Orhan Galjus all attended the meeting.

Participants engaged in lively discussions, exchanging impressions and experiences from their localities. They debated best practices and discussed the challenges they encountered in developing the Commissions. Three groups were formed to brainstorm creative strategies for generating cases, to debate the advantages of different statutes and organizational legitimization, and to discuss sustainability issues. An important part of the session was devoted to strengthening bonds among regional Conciliation Commissions. Participants explored the idea of creating a virtual network for Conciliation Commissions as well as a common web site and working methodology.

Chomutov, Jirkov and Lom’s municipal representatives were present, all of whom affirmed their willingness to support the Conciliation Commissions in the future. The mayor of Chomutov, the deputy mayors of Jirkov and Chomutov, representatives of the US Embassy in Prague, and representatives of the OSCE/ODIHR expressed their support for the Conciliation Commissions. Chomutov municipal officials even offered meeting space for their local Conciliation Commission free of charge. This support demonstrates the powerful impact of this meeting.

All the participants are now diligently exploring future means of continuing this important exchange of information. “For me, the crucial finding was that all other Conciliation Commissions are dealing with the same issues,” one Conciliation Commission member said. “We can find much more effective ways of reaching a solution if we all share our experience and ideas.”

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