Rovnost

Rovnost is a Czech and Slovak term meaning equality. It denotes the condition of being equal in status, rights, or opportunities and is used across legal, political, and social discourse. In everyday language and policy, it appears in phrases such as rovnost před zákonem (equality before the law), rovnost pohlaví (gender equality), and rovnost příležitostí (equality of opportunity).

Conceptually, rovnost is associated with the idea that individuals should have the same rights and opportunities regardless of personal characteristics or circumstances. Debates distinguish formal equality (the absence of legal obstacles) from substantive or economic equality (the distribution of resources and outcomes). Different traditions — liberal, republican, socialist — emphasize different aspects of equality, from equal civil rights to reducing material disparities.

Historically in Czech and Slovak contexts, rovnost has been a focus of political and social movements and appears in constitutions, policy debates, and education. In addition to its broad use as a concept, rovnost has also served as the title of several periodicals in Czech and Slovak lands, including a historic socialist newspaper, reflecting the importance of the term in political discourse.

See also: equality, egalitarianism, parity, anti-discrimination.