Czech Republic : Children's High Level Group

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe and a member state of the European Union since 2004.

From 1948-1989, the Czech Republic was part of the Communist state Czechoslovakia. In November 1989, Czechoslovakia returned to democracy through the ‘Velvet Revolution’ and in 1993 the country split into the independent Czech and Slovak Republics.

The Czech Republic has a population of over 10 million, of which there are currently around 22,000 children in institutions of various types. Most institutions are classed as ‘orphanages’ but there are also hospitals for children with physical and mental disabilities and handicaps. The institutions are largely run by local government, but at central level responsibility is divided between the Ministries of Education, Health and Labour and Social Affairs.

As elsewhere in Eastern and Central Europe, many children are not orphans at all, but are institutionalised for reasons of poverty or family breakdown. These children should not be in institutions, but families need support services in the community to prevent this happening.

CHLG work in the Czech Republic

CHLG began working in the Czech Republic, in collaboration with the Prague-based Centre for Mental Health Services Development.

The work has been led by a successful visit to the country by J K Rowling in May 2007, when she met many of those committed to reforming the currently very institutionalised Czech child care system. J K Rowling also visited some institutions during her visit.

Since then CHLG has worked with the Czech Government on institutionalised practice and the use of ‘caged beds’ for children with disabilities and handicaps. We are also working closely with Government and NGO representatives on de-institutionalisation and reforming the child protection systems.