Being here for everyone
You disagree with an authority’s decision or procedure; the authority is inactive even though it should act; its decision-making is taking too long; you were not invited to become a party to certain proceedings; an officer treats you inappropriately, etc.
They treat you, or someone close to you, badly in a retirement home, treatment facility for long-term patients, psychiatric hospital, children’s home, prison, or some other facility, and you think that the Ombudsman should make an inspection.
Do you believe that someone is treating you differently because of your age, sex, nationality or on some other grounds specified by the Anti-Discrimination Act? Is it an authority, a company or local self-government that discriminate against you?
Have you experienced discrimination, unhelpfulness on the part of authorities or ill-treatment because of your disability? Would you like to let us know about any systemic problems, such as unavailability of certain services, barriers, etc.?
Read through our recommendations on how to deal with certain problems, such as debt enforcement, lengthy court proceedings, obtaining a construction permit, bullying at work, pension and social benefits, contact with children after divorce, infractions, etc.
December 3, 2023
The stories of two men with mental disabilities recorded by employees of the Defender’s Office during their visits illustrate a phenomenon which has been mostly overlook so far: some people with mental disabilities, especially those with challenging behaviour, receive high doses of tranquilisers. According to the Deputy Defender, this practice has to change. Behaviour is often the only possible form of communication for people who cannot otherwise make contact with others. It is therefore necessary that the latter understand the unmet needs behind the patient’s challenging behaviour and be able to respond accordingly. Tranquillisers must not be the first, let alone the only and permanent “solution”.
November 6, 2023
As in previous years, current data from the Czech Ministry of Education show that Romani pupils are roughly 10 times more likely to leave psychological counseling centres with a diagnosis of mild mental disability than their non-Romani classmates. According to the Ombudsman, in the three years when he has been monitoring this topic, the situation in Romani education has not improved much. On average 3.5% of primary school pupils are of Roma origin. However, over a quarter (26.2%) of pupils educated according to the rules with reduced requirements, designed specifically for children with mild mental disabilities, are Roma. Such a disproportion raises questions about whether equal treatment of Roma in access to and provision of education is ensured.
October 24, 2023
Before the start of the The Second Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform held in Prague, ombuds and representatives of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from more than sixty countries around the world met at an online conference entitled "The Battle for Crimea — The Battle for Human Rights". The Ukrainian Ombudsman — Commissioner for Human Rights of the Ukrainian Parliament — Dmytro Lubynets asked his Czech counterpart, Ombudsman Stanislav Křecek, to co-organize the conference. Together with the participants, they discussed current problems and human rights violations in occupied Crimea.