Czechia
In early 2026, Czechia (the Czech Republic) is recognized as a robust democracy within the EU, but it is currently navigating significant legal shifts and ongoing social challenges. The human rights landscape is defined by major reforms to criminal law, a push for better child protection, and a heated debate over the independence of public media.
1. Rights of the Child: A Historic Ban
As of January 1, 2026, Czechia has joined the group of nations that fully protect children's dignity through legislative reform.
Prohibition of Corporal Punishment: An amendment to the Civil Code that took effect this year explicitly prohibits all corporal punishment of children, as well as mental distress and degrading measures. Czechia is now the 69th country globally to enact such a ban.
Children’s Ombudsperson: Despite this progress, advocacy groups note that the government has yet to successfully finalize the creation of a dedicated Children's Ombudsperson office, which was a key recommendation from the UN to ensure independent oversight of children's rights.
2. Reform of the Criminal Code: Prejudice-Based Violence
At the start of 2026, a major amendment to the Criminal Code came into effect, representing one of the most significant changes to Czech substantive law in decades.
Hate Crimes and Prejudice: The new laws strengthen the prosecution and punishment of prejudice-based violence. This includes expanded protections for individuals targeted because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other characteristics.
Rape Law Implementation: Following the 2024–2025 shift to a consent-based definition of rape, judicial monitoring in early 2026 is focused on whether sentencing reflects the severity of the crime, following public outcry over "lenient" suspended sentences in high-profile cases in previous years.
3. Media Freedom and Public Broadcasting
In early 2026, Czechia is facing a critical debate regarding the financial and editorial independence of its media.
Abolition of License Fees: The government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš following a confidence vote in January 2026, has moved to abolish the license fees that fund Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo).
Political Pressure: International press freedom groups (RSF, IPI) have warned that replacing these fees with direct state budget allocations—scheduled for 2027—exposes public media to political leverage. This debate is occurring just as the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) came into full force in late 2025, setting a potential collision course between Czech national policy and EU law.
4. Discrimination Against the Roma Minority
Despite decades of international pressure and multiple court rulings, systemic discrimination against the Roma community remains a "persistent problem."
Education Segregation: Roma children are still disproportionately funneled into schools or classes for students with "mild mental disabilities." As of early 2026, Roma pupils make up roughly a quarter of students in programs with reduced demands, despite the group making up less than 3% of the total population.
Housing and Employment: Discrimination in the private rental market remains high. Roma individuals face significant barriers in accessing social housing, often being pushed into "benefit-free zones" established by some municipalities to curb "undesirable social phenomena."
5. Gender Equality and the "Istanbul Convention"
Czechia remains one of the few EU countries that has not ratified the Istanbul Convention (on preventing violence against women).
Political Polarization: In late 2025 and early 2026, the debate shifted into a "culture war," with conservative groups successfully blocking ratification in the Senate by framing the treaty as an ideological threat to traditional values.
Forced Sterilization Reparations: The government continues to process compensation for women (mostly Roma) who were subjected to unlawful forced sterilization. However, as of January 2026, hundreds of women are still waiting for payments, with the Ombudsperson criticizing the Ministry of Health for "illegal delays" in the administrative process.