Czech government introduces anti-discrimination bill
If the Czech parliament passes a new anti-discrimination bill, the country will see its first anti-discrimination law in effect by January 2008. The bill, introduced by government this month, should have been adopted by the country with its EU entry in 2004. But many Czechs feel its necessity does not only derive out of the pressure from Brussels, rather realize the social need for such legislation.
The anti-discrimination law is to guarantee equal treatment and equal access to education, work, health care, welfare and housing and prevent discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, physical disability, language, religion, political conviction, property, marital status as well as membership in political parties and trade unions. But representatives of Czech NGOs criticised the government-proposed bill, saying it did not include a number of issues. Others believe a special institution should be formed to monitor discrimination.
