Czechia
Key Laws and Policies Combating Antisemitism and Antigypsyism in CZECHIA
Compensation of the victims of Nazi persecution (1996 – 1998)
The policy was implemented by the Czech German Future Fund, which combines the resources of the Czech and German governments respectively. The policy has distributed 45 million euros to support victims of National Socialist persecution alongside national and international partners including the German foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future. It is considered transferable to other contexts involving war, persecution or mass violence.
Strategy for Combatting Extremism (2009)
The Czech Republic’s Strategy for Combatting Extremism is implemented by the Ministry of the Interior alongside other. It seeks to impede harmful influences by strengthening democratic resilience, increasing general awareness, supporting cooperation and including expert consultation in decision making. The strategy emphasises education, communication, and targeted sanctions against criminal extremist activity.
Policy to Promote the Memory of the Roma Holocaust (2009)
The policy focuses on honouring Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust by revitalising the former Lety u Písku assembly camp site, which was built over with farms in the 1970s. Supported by the Czech and Norwegian governments, the Museum of Romani Culture, activists and civil society, the initiative combats antigypsyism and genocide denial by restoring the memorial grounds, investing 1.5 million euros to create a commemorative, educational space.
Initiative for the adoption of the Memorial Day for Theresienstadt family camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau (2017)
Created by Czech politicians and cultural institutions, the policy establishes a national Memorial Day in the Czech Republic to commemorate the 3,792 Jewish victims murdered during the liquidation of the Theresienstadt family camp at Auschwitz Birkenau in March 1944. The initiative produced educational workshops, university programmes, cultural and political events, including the “Concert for 3792 Theresienstadt Stars.”
CIVIL SOCIETY BEST PRACTICES IN COUNTERING ANTISEMITISM AND ANTIGYPSYISM
Czech organisations and initiatives focus on education as a best practice. Two travelling, theatrical, cultural-education programmes particularly, the Arnošt Lustig Train (2012–2016) and The Lemkin Train (2023-present) tell the stories of Holocaust Victims. The former honours writer Arnošt Lustig with performances, exhibitions, and educational activities with 35 cities across the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, engaging more than 35,000 visitors in learning about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism. The ongoing Lemkin Train initiative counters rising hatred, racism, antisemitism, and extremist ideologies by teaching the public about genocidal violence and its prevention.
Memorialisation is also considered a best practice in this national context. The Museum of Romani Culture, a unique institution founded to document, preserve, and promote the history and culture of Roma communities in the Czech Republic, builds and maintains extensive cultural and historical collections, administering key Holocaust related Roma memorial sites such as Lety u Písku and Hodonín u Kunštátu, and providing public education through exhibitions, research, and cultural programming.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF POLICIES AND INITIATIVES
The policies are evaluated with measurable qualitative and quantitative outcomes which reflect their respective aims. This includes direct results, such as total beneficiaries engaged, accounts of improvement over time, and the degree of public awareness after interaction. Evaluation also accounts for broader impact, such as reductions in discrimination arrests, convictions or reviewing institutional performance. Feedback arises from internal assessments, legal outcomes, and the visible uptake or effectiveness of the initiatives in practice. Best practice iniatives described also follow similar reporting and evaluation routes, with different indicators, such as media attention, institutional uniqueness, community and/or state support.
Evaluating the Success of Policies and Programmes
Slovakian policy evaluations show that its policies have positively impacted the countering of antisemitism and antigypsyism in the Czech Republic. The Strategy for Combatting Extremism strengthened and reduced the capacities of anti‑Roma groups, banning the Workers’ Party and its Protection Corps. It also claims to have contributed to the successful investigation of attacks, including the Vítkov arson case. Meanwhile, the policy promoting the memory of the Roma Holocaust notes significant success in Holocaust‑related evidence preservation and positive feedback gathered through the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of the EEA/Norway Grants. The compensation programme successfully distributed CZK 8 billion to victims. Meanwhile, the success of the memorialisation initiative is evidenced by its formal inclusion in Czech law and recurring annual commemorations.