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[PRAGUE, 6 February 2008] - The fees introduced in Czech health care this year are against the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Social Democrat (senior opposition CSSD) MP Anna Curdova told journalists.
The introduction of the fees is flagrant violation of the convention's articles 3 and 24, said Miroslav Prokes, head of the Czech branch of the Defence for Children International (DCI).
The position on the fulfilment of the convention was worked out by teams, consisting of child rights experts, representatives of state institutions and NGOs, and students and pupils, established at a seminar organised by DCI's Czech branch.
Apart from the cancellation of the fees, the work teams recommended the establishment of a children's ombudsman office in the Czech Republic.
The teams also called for a law that would allow youths to take part in the meetings of parliament committees and commissions.
Expert said courts dealing with divorce cases should take into account the opinion of children more.
The Czech government is to send a regular report on the fulfilment of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the UN.
pdf: http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=295132