The Czech Public Defender of Rights published its annual report for the year 2019. 2019 was a balancing year for the Czech equality body, marking the 10th anniversary of the Anti-Discrimination Act, as well as the end of the 6 year term of now former Public Defender of Rights, Anna Šabatová. A series of round tables both with institutions and legal experts allowed to assess the impacts of the Act on Czech society and to discuss possible amendments. Furthermore, the report details legal support and promotional work to advance more equal society.
The number of individual complaints of discrimination increased by 20 to 403, with the Public Defender of Rights concluding discrimination in 16 cases. From cases closed in 2019, most concerned the area of work and employment (123), followed by goods and services (83), and housing (51).
As opposed to the year 2018, the prevailing ground of discrimination was disability, thus being the most claimed ground of discrimination (109). Complaints concerning gender become second in the list (53). Age discrimination came third with 48 complaints.
The Defender promoted more inclusive society through many concrete actions, including:
- Publication of report on the experiences and situation of LGBT+ persons
- Research of recent national courts rulings concerning hate speech on the internet
- Recommendation aimed at municipalities on the provision of preschool education to children with social and economical disadvantages
Read the full report in English here.