1. CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC - THE VIEW OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ANETA PLAVINOVÁ SECRETARY TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD OF THE COUNCIL OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

2. CONTENTS 1.Council of the Government of the Czech Republic for Human Rights and its committees (particularly Committee for the Rights of the Child) 2.Selected motions of the Committee for the Rights of the Child 3.Current challenges to the Rights of the Child in the Czech Republic

3. COUNCIL OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND ITS COMMITTEES

4. COUNCIL OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC FOR HUMAN RIGHTS permanent advisory body since 1998 monitors compliance with the Constitution of the Czech Republic and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms monitors the national implementation of the Czech Republic's international commitments (incl. Convention on the Rights of the Child) prepares proposals concerning policy concepts in different areas of human rights protection and drafts motions to improve the respect for human rights adopts opinions on proposals of the government, ministerial and other measures concerning the protection and respect for human rights consists of the representatives of the central authorities of the state administration and representatives of civil society, professional public and the academic community

5. COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL Government Council for Human Rights Committee for Civil and Political Rights Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committee against Torture Committee for Human Rights and Biomedicine Committee for the Rights of the Child Committee for the Rights of the Foreigners Committee for Sexual Minorities Committee against Discrimination

6. COMMITTEE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD established in 1998 as Section for Rights of the Child monitors the implementation of the rights of the child in the Czech republic, incl. the implementation of international commitments, such as the ones arising from the CRC consists of 24 members: 12 representating the central authorities 12 representing the civil society and academia presided by Zdeněk Kapitán meetings are held as deemed necessary (5 times in 2013) working groups can be established

7. ADOPTION OF A MOTION/RECOMMENDATION Prepares motion for the Council Motion is approved/ rejected /returned to the submitter(s) Committee Motion is approved /rejected /sent back to the Committee Council Takes the motion into account and takes appropriate measures Government

8. MOTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

9. SELECTION OF ADOPTED INCENTIVES Post-divorce childcare in the light of the CRC 1.Include the education on possible solutions in the cases of conflictual divorces to the social worker's curriculum 2.Prepare an ethic code for professionals working with children 3.Evaluate all forms of help provided for children threatened by conflictual divorce Approved by the Council in December in 2007, the Government has taken it into account in June 2008 (resolution no. 691) Court procedures in the civil matters: Representation of the child, duration of the court proceedings, Supreme Court review, etc.

10. CURRENT CHALLENGES

11. CURRENT CHALLENGES I. Institutions guarding the rights of the child -Strengthen the coordination of the implementation of the CRC among all relevant bodies and institutions and at all levels -Independent body to oversee the implementation of the CRC („children's ombudsman“) -Human, technical and financial resources of relevant bodies and institutions -Training of professionals working with children (judges, social workers, etc.) Procedural safeguards -Integration of the best interest of the child to all relevant legislation -CRIA -Child participation, legal representation -Indicators and data collection

12. CURRENT CHALLENGES II. Support measures -Complex family policy to prevent the family dissolution -Services to children in vulnerable socio-economic situation (particularly social housing, substitute alimony) -Alternative care services (shift from current institutions to community-based family type services and foster care) -Support to children leaving the institutional care -High quality, affordable childcare facilities

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