The Czech Republic’s current policies and national strategies demonstrate commitment to constantly improve and strengthen the child protection system. This dedication is a valuable asset in ensuring that the rights of children are upheld in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which the Czech Republic has ratified. In 2022, to support the Czech government’s efforts to strengthen the child protection system, UNICEF commissioned an assessment of the Czech child protection system under a joint workplan signed with the MoLSA.
This assessment examined how the child protection system supports children and families in vulnerable situations, with a particular focus on supporting the significant number of refugee children from Ukraine who have come to the Czech Republic since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
The recommendations stemming from the primary data collection were validated in three round table events in Prague, Brno and Ostrava by representatives of UNICEF, MoLSA and selected members of the child protection system. In 2024, the initial analysis was supplemented with an additional desk review, including of good practices in the Czech Republic and elsewhere and relevant reports, action plans and strategies. All this has informed the recommendations on how the Czech child protection system can be strengthened. This report has been reviewed by representatives of MoLSA and their feedback has been integrated in this final draft.
