2007 press releases

Final Conference of the Roma Integration Program

PRAGUE (February 23, 2007) 

A conference marking the conclusion of the Roma Integration Program in the Czech Republic will be held in Prague on March 8 to discuss the impact of the project and to share best practices with conference participants for improving the situation of Roma.

Particular emphasis will be given to the impact of media on Roma integration efforts in the Czech Republic. A panel of media experts representing major media organizations such as Czech TV, Czech Radio, Reflex, Prima TV and Mladá Fronta Dnes will meet during the afternoon portion of the conference to discuss the topic, “Images of national minorities in the news: is the reporting of minority issues stereotypical or not?” Prior to the panel discussion, Partners Czech, the implementer of the Roma Integration Program in the Czech Republic, will introduce program media activities, including public awareness campaigns and internships for Roma with national media organizations.

During the morning, Cameron Munter, the U.S. Charges d’Affaires, will speak on behalf of the U.S. government in Prague. Ray Kirkland, USAID Regional Director, and Ms. Dzamila Stehliková, Minister for Human rights and National Minority Issues, will also speak about the impact of the Roma Integration Program in the Czech Republic.

Roma Integration Program beneficiaries, media interns, NGO representatives, local government officials, media, donors, government officials and members of the Council for Roma Community Affairs will also be in attendance. The event is closed to the public but a press conference is scheduled for 14:30 following the conclusion of the conference.

Partners-Czech organized the event as part of the Roma Integration Program. The four-year, USAID-funded program builds the capacity of Roma individuals and community organizations to support Roma integration efforts and promotes inter-ethnic collaboration and tolerance in nine target municipalities in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. In three Czech communities, Bruntál, Chomutov and Pardubice, Partners Czech works with government, NGO and private sector representatives to identify Roma community needs and draft action plans to address these issues with funding from small grants. Nationally, Partners Czech facilitates policy roundtables, school-based initiatives and media programs designed to foster collaborative Roma integration efforts. The United States government has provided nearly $2.8 million in assistance to the three countries in support of these efforts, including nearly $650,000 (approximately 13.9 million CZK) to the Czech Republic.

Event Details

National Museum of Agriculture, Kostelni 44, Prague 7 - Letna
March 8, 2007, 10:00-14:15 
Press Conference 14:30-15:00