Conceptualization of Roma in Policy Documents Related to Social Inclusion and Health in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, a number of strategy papers and policy documents are guiding the direction of Roma inclusion, including in the area of health. The conceptualization of Roma and how mainstream political and public discourse operate with the term "Roma" contribute to a mistakenly homo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-10, Vol.17 (21), p.7739
Main Authors: Slepickova, Lenka, Bobakova, Daniela Filakovska
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advocacy
Citizens
Civil rights
Concept Formation
Crime prevention
Czech Republic
Discourse
Discrimination
Documents
Education
Empowerment
Health care policy
Health disparities
Health Policy
Human rights
Humans
Inequalities
Inequality
International organizations
Minority & ethnic groups
Planning
Politics
Population
Poverty
Responsibility
Roma
Romani people
Social exclusion
Social Inclusion
Social integration
Stereotypes
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Summary:In the Czech Republic, a number of strategy papers and policy documents are guiding the direction of Roma inclusion, including in the area of health. The conceptualization of Roma and how mainstream political and public discourse operate with the term "Roma" contribute to a mistakenly homogenous and harmful image of Roma that conforms to negative stereotypes. The aim of our study was to examine the conceptualization of Roma in policy documents related to social inclusion and health in the Czech Republic. Relevant political, strategic and project documents were selected for analysis. Emphasis is placed in them on individual responsibility in relation to health, while structural conditions and discrimination are mentioned less often. Roma are described in relation to health primarily as people who should be educated. More emphasis is placed on the economic benefits of eliminating health inequalities than on citizens' rights and the importance of inclusion. When "participation" or "empowerment" is mentioned, it is done vaguely, usually in addition to references to completely non-participatory practices. The majority is the primary actor in the field of eliminating health inequalities, as it defines the "path" that Roma need to be shown or determines what is needed to "stimulate" citizens. Although the political discourse concerning Roma has shifted more towards human rights, equity and combating discrimination in the Czech Republic, subtle forms of anti-Gypsyism still seem to be present.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17217739