Legal status of National and Ethnic Minorities in the Czech Republic

The proper regulation of the legal status of national and ethnic minorities in the former Communist Block countries still remains a serious problem. In comparison to other countries of this block, the Czech Republic stands out. Its constitutional protection of national and ethnic minorities is currently guaranteed by the regulation included in: the constitution from December 16 1992, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, the act regarding the rights of national minorities of 2001, the anti-discrimination act of 2009 and the ratified international agreements. The purpose of this elaboration is to present the legal situation of the national and ethnic minorities in Czech Republic by specifying the assumptions of country’s politics towards the minorities, discuss their granted rights and legal instruments essential for its protection. This precedes the extensive historical sketch showing the position of the national minorities within the Czech Republic between 1918 and 1992, which Czech Republic is a legal and axiological continuator.