Czech ombudsman warns of gaps in child protection

The Czech ombudsman's office for children handled 8,285 complaints last year, up from around 7,450 in 2024, according to its annual report. The office identified errors by public authorities in 549 cases. The report highlights persistent shortcomings in the protection of vulnerable children, including fragmented responsibilities across ministries and delays in reforming care for children with disabilities or mental illnesses. The children's ombudsman agenda received 1,345 complaints in 2025, including 161 directly from children. The institution says creating a children's ombudsman was an important milestone, but systemic reforms are still urgently needed.