The Czech Republic is undergoing a periodic assessment of its respect for human rights this year. One stage of this assessment has now concluded after a meeting between NGO representatives and the permanent missions of the member states, held at the UN in Geneva. The League of Human Rights drew attention to violations of patients' rights, to the deficiencies in obstetrics and psychiatry in the Czech Republic.

The League has proposed ten recommendations to the delegates, which the UN member states can take over and address the during the November meeting with representative of the Czech government. We consider the changes in the education of doctors in the area of patients' rights and communication with them, the creation of quality standards of obstetric care and the full exercise of the profession of midwives to be the most important issues.

"For many women, giving birth is one of the most important events in their lives, so we appeal to the present states to give the Czech Republic a recommendation. A high standard of protection is essential in this area," said Sandra Paskova of the League of Human Rights during her address at the UN.

Third review for CZ

Representatives of the Open Society Fund Prague, Lumos and the Czech Helsinki Committee also attended the meeting.

The so-called The Universal Periodic Review of the UN is a specific mechanism consisting of dialogue between member states to assess the human rights situation in the country being reviewed. Member states have equal status during the review and may ask each other questions, comment on facts and make recommendations.

The Czech Republic is undergoing the review for the third time. In October 2012, the Czech Republic received a total of 136 recommendations, of which the government adopted 129, committing itself to taking the necessary steps to fulfill them.

For more information, please contact:

Sandra Paskova, League of Human Rights legal assistant: +420 733 524 316; sandra.paskova@llp.cz