Czech Republic: An organization called "Krnov League for Human Rights of Gypsies", including the names of its leaders, officers
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CZE30275.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Czech Republic: An organization called "Krnov League for Human Rights of Gypsies", including the names of its leaders, officers, 1 November 1998, CZE30275.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba88c.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The organization, League for Human Rights in Krnov, is cited in a Radio Prague report entitled "The Situation of the Roma in the Czech Republic, January 1998" (n.d.). Josef Baláz was an organizational spokesperson at that time (ibid.). A representative of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly (HCA) is aware of the organization and stated that Mr. Baláz is now in Great Britain; Jan Kotlár is its current chair (29 Oct. 1998). According to the HCA representative, this is the same organization as the League for Human Rights, Rights of Children and Youth in Krnov (see CZE30280.E) The organization has approximately 300 members, including children, and operates in Krnov only (ibid.).
In a 1997 Czech News Agency (CTK) article, Jan Kotlar is mentioned in conjunction with the Civic Initiative for Peace and Human Rights of the Romanies (see CZE30276.E).
Representatives of the Documentation Centre for Human Rights also indicated that they were aware of a Krnov League for Human Rights of Gypsies, a local organization working on human rights issues, although they had not themselves worked with them (26 Oct. 1998). They provided the name of Eduard Voloscek as a contact and a different street address for the organization (ibid).
Mr Voloscek (Valasek) and the League for Human Rights were also mentioned in the 1997 CTK article (15 Oct. 1997). The article states that Mr Valasek set up the organization in Krnov in 1995 to improve relations between the Roma and majority communities. The organization is credited by the Krnov police as having eased tensions between the communities (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Czech News Agency (CTK). 15 October 1998. "White Defender of Romanies Tired of Intolerance and Emigrates." (NEXIS)
Documentation Centre for Human Rights [Prague]. 26 October 1998. Telephone interview with representatives.
Helsinki Citizens Assembly [Brno]. 29 October 1998. Fax sent to the Research Directorate.
Radio Prague. no date. "Foundations and Organizations Concerned with the Romani Minority." [Internet].
