International round table in Geneva co-convened by UN Human Rights and civil society will hear complaints about compensation for forced sterilizations in the Czech Republic

On Thursday, 15 September an international round table will be held in Geneva to address antigypsyism and discrimination against Romani people, convened by the United Nations Human Rights Office Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section (OHCHR IPMS) in collaboration with the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues and the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, together with civil society colleagues. Elena Gorolová of the Czech Republic will be participating in one of the panels, interpreted by Gwendolyn Albert.

“We want to report on some of the mistakes that we see being made so far in the ministry’s administration of the compensation system, mistakes we believe can be corrected during the remaining two or so years that the system will be running,” Albert told news server Romea.cz. A compensation program for those subjected to illegally performed sterilizations was adopted last year, and the law to provide a one-time payment of CZK 300,000 was signed on 22 July 2021 by the Czech President. 

Victims have been able to apply since the beginning of 2022. According to the experiences of many who have applied to date, however, the Health Ministry is only acknowledging as proof of compensation the original medical records of such surgeries, many of which have already been shredded – despite the fact that the law is meant to apply to sterilizations dating back to 1966. 

It is exactly this approach by the ministry that nonprofit organizations are criticizing and Gorolová will be speaking about it in Geneva. The event is open to the public and the meeting will be broadcast live online; you will be able to follow it on news server Romea.cz.