CAT/C/CZE/CO/6
the Convention to provide full redress and the means for full rehabilitation to victims
of torture.
Treatment of persons in psychiatric institutions
32.
While noting the reform of psychiatric care under way, and the recently issued
methodological guidelines on the use of restraints, the Committee remains concerned at the
continued use of net beds in psychiatric institutions. The Committee is concerned at reports
that recommendations made by the Public Defender of Rights have not been fully
implemented. It is also concerned at reports that the scope of the information contained in
the central registry recording the use of restraints is limited for the purpose of monitoring
(arts. 11 and 16).
33.
The State party should:
(a)
Strengthen its efforts to implement the ongoing reform of psychiatric
care, including by increasing the use of less restrictive alternatives to the forcible
confinement of persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities;
(b)
Ensure that national legislation provides guarantees for effective legal
safeguards for all persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities concerning
involuntary psychiatric and medical treatment in psychiatric institutions, including
with regard to chemical and physical restraints;
(c)
Prohibit, in practice, the use of cage beds in all psychiatric institutions
and social institutions in which children with mental disabilities are held; amend the
Health-Care Services Act (No. 372/2011) to include the prohibition of net beds in all
psychiatric facilities; and ensure that the central registry recording the use of
restraints includes sufficiently comprehensive information for the purpose of
monitoring;
(d)
Take the necessary measures to enable the Public Defender of Rights, in
its capacity as the national preventive mechanism, to continue its regular and
unannounced visits to psychiatric institutions without any restriction, and to ensure
that recommendations made by the Public Defender of Rights are effectively
implemented;
(e)
Investigate all complaints of ill-treatment of persons with mental and
psychosocial disabilities in psychiatric institutions, bring those responsible to justice
and provide redress to victims.
Surgical castration of sex offenders
34.
While noting that surgical castration may only be carried out on a voluntary basis
and that procedural safeguards have been introduced into the legal framework, the
Committee regrets that the State party has not completely abolished the practice of surgical
castration (arts. 2 and 16).
35.
The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary measures
to review the policy of using surgical castration in the context of treatment of sex
offenders, with a view to bringing it into line with international standards.
Public Defender of Rights
36.
While noting the State party’s report indicating that the process of amending the Act
on the Public Defender of Rights of 2015 is under way (see CAT/C/CZE/6, para. 39), the
Committee is concerned that the State party has not established a consolidated national
human rights institution in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national
institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) and that,
despite the recent expansion of its capacity, the Public Defender of Rights still lacks the
broad mandate needed to promote and protect all areas of human rights (art. 2).
37.
The State party should expedite its efforts to amend the Act on the Public
Defender of Rights, with a view to strengthening and bringing the human rights
mandate of the Public Defender of Rights into full compliance with the Paris
7