ABSTRACT
The human rights protection has been directly associated with the recognition of the Roma as a nationality within Czechoslovakia. The Czech Government's response to the perceived 'Gypsy problem' is illuminating. Despite international criticism, the Czech Government consistently argued that its citizenship law complied with international standards. When the Czech Socialist Republic (CSR) did turn its attention towards the Roma it was quickly determined that they were not a nationality as they lacked a common land, a common culture and distinct language. The liberalisation of attitudes following the Prague spring led to the establishment of the Union of Gypsy Romanies, the first organization of its kind in Czechoslovakia, which promoted a variety of cultural activities and tried to address the hostility towards the Gypsies from the non-Gypsy population. The Czech Republic has its own constitution of December 1992 and has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
