This practice, described by the country's prime minister as a "gross historical human rights violation," lasted for several decades.
Since 2022, victims of sterilization between 1966 and 2012 have been able to seek compensation as part of a scheme that was due to come to an end on New Year's Day in 2025.
Now, following domestic and international criticism of the program's effectiveness, Czech lawmakers are considering a motion by senior politicians to delay the cut-off date for another two years.
Earlier this month, the European Union's commissioner for human rights urged the authorities in Prague to extend the program and address its other shortcomings.
In a letter to Czech PM Petr Fiala, Michael O'Flaherty noted that less than half of the 1,500 compensation claims assessed so far were granted, but over 20 rejections were then overturned in court.
"These [legal] judgments identified flaws in the compensation procedure and its application, mainly related to the threshold of evidence required and the burden of proof imposed on victims," wrote the commissioner.
O'Flaherty said the commission was concerned about "a lack of clear methodology" when assessing claims, adding that the Czech ministry of health did not have sufficient resources and expert support to deal with these applications.
He added that some victims may be reluctant to come forward because of inconsistencies in the way claims are assessed.
"For example, one of the main challenges faced by victims was whether evidence of sterilization other than medical records would be accepted, accompanied by the disproportionate burden of proof placed on them," he wrote.
"For those victims who did not have medical records of sterilization, often because these had been disposed of or, with the passage of time, destroyed due to fires, floods, or other reasons, there was a lack of clarity as to which other types of evidence would be acceptable, if any."
Financial incentives for sterilization
The coercive sterilization of Romani women was given legal approval in communist-run Czechoslovakia by a 1971 decree, writes Bernard Rorke of the European Roma Rights Centre.
From 1979, Roma women were given financial incentives to be sterilized, with authorities claiming they must "control the highly unhealthy Roma population."
Despite being formally abolished in 1993, Rorke says that "the practice of sterilizing Romani women without their consent continued throughout the 1990s and the 2000s, with the last known case occurring as recently as 2007."
The response to the compensation scheme surpassed the expectations of the government, Czech Romani affairs website Romea.cz noted. Officials were counting on 400 persons coming forward, but so far over 2,000 applications have been submitted.
The site reports that Roma groups and human rights organizations had "repeatedly complained that the legally established deadline for processing the requests is not being met and that evidence other than original medical records is not being recognized by the ministry."
The country's Ombudsman, quoted by Romea.cz, said that extending the compensation period would be especially helpful to women whose medical records were shredded by the state.
Decision-making 'improved'
In a written response to O'Flaherty's letter, Czech PM Fiala said that he felt a "moral commitment to address effectively" the decades-long human rights violation inflicted upon women mainly of a Roma background.
"Indeed, there are various practical obstacles the applicants have faced," Fiala acknowledged.
"However, relevant state authorities and courts have been continuously responsive, improving both the decision-making practice as well as raising awareness about the matter among victims and [the] wider public," he wrote.
Fiala pointed to efforts undertaken as early as 2022 to widen the range of evidence accepted by assessors. The authorities, he said, have made improvements in response to criticism by the courts and have also put resources toward supporting victims as they draw up their applications, as well as prioritizing the claims of victims who are now elderly.
He concluded by saying that the proposed extension of the compensation scheme had his "personal support," adding that "it is now for the Parliament to adopt the amendment."
