Czech Labor and Social Affairs Ministry reports that 53 % of under-threes in infant facilities are Romani

At the beginning of the year the Czech Labor and Social Affairs Ministry (MPSV) performed an investigation into the current number of children growing up in infant facilities for children up to the age of three, basing their current data on a previous investigation performed by the Lumos organization. According to the report, the overall number of children growing up in infant facilities for children up to the age of three continues to decline. 

The ethnicity of such children was also investigated and 53 % of the children in such facilities are said to be are of Romani ethnicity, to different extents. “In response to the decision by the European Committee for Social Rights, the children’s ethnicity was also investigated,” the Lumos/MPSV report states. 

“Specifically, the facilities were asked to provide information about the number of children who are ethnic Roma or half-Roma. Third-party ascription of ethnicity was used,” the report describes the methodology. 

“The facilities were aksed to report whether the ascription of ethnicity was on the basis of data in the child’s case file, on the child’s appearance, or on other background information,” the report states. “Altogether the facilities identified 275 children (i.e., 53 % of all such children) as ethnic Roma or half-Roma.”

“Of institutionalized children between one and three years of age (inclusive), the facilities report that almost two-thirds are either Romani or half-Romani,” the report states. Romani children under three are between twice and three times more likely to be institutionalized than are children of the same age living with disabilities, according to the report.

“Among the population in the Czech Republic, approximately 3.7 % of children are Romani, which is a very similar proportion to the number of children living with disabilities, but Romani children are twice or three times more likely to be growing up in facilities for children aged three and under than are children living with disabilities,” the report states. Ascertaining the number of children living in infant facilities for under-threes was one of the tasks the Czech Republic was called upon to do in association with the recent decision by the European Committee for Social Rights that the Czech Republic overinstitutionalizes both Romani children and children living with disabilities.