The information contained on this page represents the situation as of 1 January 2012 and is a summary of the country report produced by the country expert from the network. The summary can be downloaded here as well.

Contact:
Pavla Boucková
E-mail: poradna@iol.cz

Society in the Czech Republic, a country with a population of 10 million, has become increasingly homogenous in its post-war history. In 1945, as part of the post-Second World War settlements, legislation was approved to expatriate most Germans (the largest minority in Czechoslovakia), as well as Hungarians. Most members of the Czechoslovak Roma and Jewish populations perished in German concentration camps, and many members of the Jewish minority who survived the Holocaust were expatriated as German nationals.

Definitions of direct and indirect discrimination, sexual harassment and harassment, as well as indirect discrimination on the ground of disability are included in the Anti-discrimination Law. The legislation protects against discrimination against natural persons, but this protection does not apply to legal persons.

The system of laws provides for civil, criminal and administrative enforcement, but in practice civil enforcement is believed to be the only effective method. Cases of civil disputes relating to discrimination are given great importance by the media, and this is the only type of enforcement where the victim can obtain financial compensation for non-material damages.