RomanoNet asks the President of the Czech Senate for a meeting and for steps to be taken on senators' hate speech against Roma
RomanoNet, an umbrella organization of Romani nonprofit organizations in the Czech Republic, has sent a letter to the President of the Senate, Miloš Vystrčil, asking for a meeting about hate speech targeting the Romani minority. In the letter, the director of RomanoNet, Michal Miko, expresses his concern about recent speeches by some senators, which he describes as "offensive and discriminatory".
“Those words not only caused great upset and fear in the Romani community, but have also threatened the very essence of our democratic values, which are based on respect, equality and the dignity of all citizens,” Miko said in the letter, which he has made available to news server Romea.cz. He is asking the President of the Senate for an opportunity to meet with him and other representatives of the Romani community in order to discuss these specific cases of hate speech by the senators, the possible repercussions of such rhetoric for the Romani population, reconciliation in society as a whole, measures proposed for addressing and preventing hate speech from being repeated in the Senate, and the role of the Senate in supporting tolerance, inclusion and understanding among all citizens.
Miko said he believes constructive dialogue and the common efforts of all parties involved, including the Senate, could play a crucial role in combating discrimination and creating an environment in which each citizen is treated with dignity and respect. “I am of the opinion that our common duty is to arrange for the rights and freedoms of all members of our society to be enjoyed irrespective of their ethnicity or cultural background,” he said in the letter.
“Hateful, manipulative speech in any form harms the cohesion we are striving for and violates both the principles anchored in our Constitution and those anchored in international treaties on human rights,” Miko said in the letter, which news server Romea.cz is publishing in full translation below.
Request for a meeting on hate speech targeting the Romani minority
In Prague, 31. 07. 2023
Dear Mr. President of the Senate,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits. My name is Michal Miko and I am the director of the umbrella organization RomanoNet, which is a platform of non-profit organizations bringing together non-profit organizations through a number of successful projects and activities. The purpose of establishing this common umbrella organization was to create a professional partner with whom the institutions of the Czech state could address the mutual coexistence of Roma and other inhabitants of the Czech Republic. The members of RomanoNet, the civil society members of the Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs and the Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs are turning to you with a request for a meeting to discuss a matter of the utmost importance – the issue of manipulative, even hateful speech by some Czech senators about the Roma community.
As concerned representatives of civil society who are deeply committed to promoting a tolerant and inclusive society, we have been disgusted by recent reports and incidents of offensive and discriminatory language by some senators in the Czech Republic. These words have not only caused great upset and fear in the Roma community, but have also threatened the very essence of our democratic values, which are based on respect, equality and dignity for all citizens.
I am of the opinion that our common duty is to arrange for the rights and freedoms of all members of our society to be enjoyed irrespective of their ethnicity or cultural background. Hateful, manipulative speech in any form harms the cohesion we are striving for and violates both the principles anchored in our Constitution and those anchored in international treaties on human rights.
We therefore request the opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the following matters:
- Specific cases of hate speech by senators against the Romani community.
- The possible repercussions of such rhetoric on the Roma population and on overall social peace.
- Proposed measures to address and prevent the recurrence of hate speech in the Senate.
- The role of the Senate in promoting tolerance, inclusion and understanding among all citizens.
We believe that constructive dialogue and joint efforts by all stakeholders, including the Senate, can play a key role in combating discrimination and creating an environment in which every citizen is treated with dignity and respect.
We would like to contribute to this important conversation and we would be grateful for the opportunity to present our views and to engage in meaningful discussion with you and other interested representatives. Together we can work towards a more inclusive, harmonious society that values the richness of its diversity.
Thank you for considering our request. I look forward to receiving an affirmative response from you as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact me by email at michal.miko@romanonet.cz or by phone to arrange a convenient date and time to meet.
Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.
Yours sincerely,
Michal Miko
Director
