NCJ Number
212004
Date Published
2005
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article outlines research findings on the relationship between the majority and the minority ethnic group, Roma, in the Czech Republic, especially with regards to integration processes.
Abstract
In 2000, the Government of the Czech Republic formalized its intent to integrate members of the minority Roma Community into society by adopting the Governmental Policy for Members of the Roma Community. In order to implement policies of integration, the Institute of Criminology and Social Prevention was charged with analyzing the current situation in the Czech Republic with regards to racial discrimination and with analyzing the procedures designed to eliminate racial discrimination and integrate Roma and other ethnic minorities into society. Research methods included interviewing 74 Roma advisors, 42 of whom considered themselves to be ethnic Roma, and field research in selected towns. The findings discuss the majority-held stereotypes of Romas and perceptions of discrimination among the Roma advisors. Several problems endemic to the Roma Community were noted and included unemployment, problems with civil co-existence, and problems with drugs and prostitution. Factors hindering integration and restricting the implementation of integration policies are identified, as are the factors supporting integration, which are identified as quality community work by local organizations and the existence of a Roma social network uniting the community. In closing, integration is seen as a distinct possibility mainly due to the efforts of many Roma to integrate themselves into the majority society.