Czech bill to compensate forcibly sterilised Roma passes
Elena Gorolova poses in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Jan 16, 2006. Dozens of roma women, including Gorolova were illegally sterilised in Sep 1990, according to findings by the country’s ombudsman. (File photo: AP/Petr David Josek)
PRAGUE: The lower house of the Czech Parliament approved legislation on Friday (Jun 4) to compensate Roma women who were sterilised against their will.
Human rights groups believe hundreds of Roma women were sterilized without their informed consent. Up to 400 women are expected to be entitled to claim the one-time compensation of 300,000 Czech crowns (US$14,350).
Under communism, sterilisation was a semi-official tool to limit the population of Roma in what is now the Czech Republic. But the practice continued after the end of communism in 1989, according to a 2005 report by the national ombudsman.
Women who were illegally sterilised between 1966 and 2012 are eligible for the compensation. They will have up to three years from the time the legislation becomes effective to file claims.
The bill still needs to be considered by the upper house, the Senate, and Czech President Milos Zeman.
The government apologized to the women in 2009, but no compensation was paid. Some have filed individual lawsuits against hospitals.
