Deputy Ombudsman Schorm: care of children in state institutions does not reflect their needs

Experts at the Czech Ombudsman’s Office have criticised the current care of children in state institutions over an inability to adapt to children’s individual circumstances and needs. Findings by the office were today reported by Deputy Ombudsman Vít Alexander Schorm, who called for improved legislation and guidelines that can distinguish between those children who are in care because they have no relatives able to look after them, and those children who have committed a crime.

In the last five years, the Ombudsman's Office has visited eight institutions for children in protective education and four institutions focused on caring for children with addictions. In response to their visits, Schorm recommends that the Ministry of Education establish completely separate facilities for the different groups of children entrusted by courts into the care of the state.