Establishing Roma Advisory Positions in Local Government
Tensions between Czechs and the Roma minority in the Czech Republic received worldwide attention in 1997, when Canada and Great Britain were flooded with visa applications from Roma. A documentary about the new lives of Roma immigrants in Canada had been aired in the Czech Republic, sparking dissatisfaction among the local Romas and a would-be exodus. The Canadians and British were ill-prepared to handle the visa deluge and they, along with other international governments and NGOs, pressed the Czech government to address the considerable problem of discrimination against the Roma minority in their country.
In an attempt to deal with the crisis, Partners-Czech worked with the Czech Ministries of the Interior, Education, Labor and Social Affairs, local government representatives, the Open Society Fund, and several Roma groups to develop the new position of "minority advisor" in municipal governments. As a result, a minority advisor has been appointed in every city in the Czech Republic to represent the needs and concerns of the local Roma population and to facilitate interaction with local government officials. Each advisor serves as a bridge between the two cultures, working to break down prevalent racist stereotypes about the Roma population. Partners-Czech was chosen to lead a specialized training program to prepare the Roma advisors for their new roles. The program included training in communication and negotiation skills, as well as workshops on state welfare programs and social policy.
The establishment of these new advisory positions has built much-needed understanding, while reducing ethnic tensions and violence between the Czech majority and their Roma neighbors. The program has also given the Roma a more prominent voice in local government, clearing the way for improvements in their social and economic status.
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