Published - D.H v Czechia: Roma educational equality & the vulnerability of strategic litigation

After years of research, I am very proud that AUC Studia Territorialia (Karolinum Press) has published my article on Roma educational desegregation efforts in Czechia and the multi-dimensional impacts of strategic litigation. The education of Roma children is a subject incredibly close to my heart and I hope that this piece contributes in some small way to publicising a sadly persistent human rights abuse suffered by Roma children throughout Europe.

The...article describes the perilous quest of Czech Roma for equal educational opportunities following the 2007 ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in D.H. and Others v. Czech Republic. It found the common practice of placing Roma children in 'special schools was indirectly discriminatory under the European Convention on Human Rights. Filip Sys analyses the impact that this precedent-setting decision...had on Czech Roma with regard to...[desegregating Czech] schools. His analysis points out the limits of strategic litigation as a tool to effect societal change, which - if it is to succeed - must be complemented by activism outside the courtroom

Lucie Filipová and Jan Šír, AUC Studia Territorialia

Please see here for the published article: D.H v. Czech Republic: Roma Educational Equality & the Vulnerability of Strategic Litigation.

I would like to thank those who provided insight, their time and encouragement during this process. Being new to writing academic articles, I am grateful for the kindness and patience shown by the editors at Studia Territorialia. This was my first formally published article and I hope it is a sign of things to come.

If you want to learn more, I urge you to support organisations like the European Roma Rights Centre, ERGO Network, ROMEA and other organisations which fight for Roma human rights across Europe. Be part of the solution.