Czech child ombudsman's report flags systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children

The 2025 annual report of the Czech public protector highlighted that the recently created child ombudsman office, led by Martin Beneš since April, is insufficient to address long‑standing shortcomings in safeguarding vulnerable children. The state is said to lack a unified strategy, with child protection responsibilities fragmented across several ministries.

The report recorded 1,345 child‑related inquiries for the year, including 161 submissions directly from children – an increase of 62 year‑on‑year. It called for urgent reform of care for children with disabilities or combined health and mental‑health issues, noting that many families remain unsupported in crises. Additional concerns include slow progress in converting institutional care, gaps in inclusive education, and a general need for a coordinated system.

Overall, the office processed 8,285 inquiries in 2025, identifying 549 cases of administrative errors, and underscored the necessity of a comprehensive overhaul of the child‑protection framework.