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.
April 11, 2024
Following the Government's meeting on the amendment to the Ombudsman Act, the Public Defender of Rights Stanislav Křeček welcomed the Minister for Legislation's position on the institution of a Children's Ombudsman. The establishment of the Children's Ombudsman along with the expansion of the Ombudsman's mandate in the protection of human rights was approved by the Government on Wednesday April 10th.
March 18, 2024
The Defender, Stanislav Křeček, and his deputy, Vít Alexander Schorm, introduced today the preparations made by their office with regard to the possible further expansion of their competence in the field of human rights protection. Over the past four years, the Defender has utilised 38.25 million Czech crowns under the Norway Grants project [1] to enhance his activities in the area of human rights with a number of surveys, reports and recommendations, as well as other activities aimed at experts and the general public. Thanks, among others, to the partnership with the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution, the staff of the Defender’s Office have gained experience in working methods typical of institutions with a broad human rights protection mandate. They already put the experience to use in their current work, and will benefit from it especially if the Public Defender of Rights assumes the role of a national human rights institution (NHRI) and a children’s ombudsman. Both are envisaged by the forthcoming amendment to the Public Defender of Rights Act, discussed by the Legislative Council of the Government on Thursday, 29 February.
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”.