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Czech anger at caged beds report Czech anger at caged beds report
(4 days later)
A Czech minister has questioned claims that cage-like beds are still being used for children in social care homes a year after being banned.A Czech minister has questioned claims that cage-like beds are still being used for children in social care homes a year after being banned.
An undercover BBC team found children kept in high-bar beds in five homes.An undercover BBC team found children kept in high-bar beds in five homes.
Social affairs minister Petr Necas told Czech media the beds were "cots" not cages and "completely normal" if a doctor and guardian agreed to them.Social affairs minister Petr Necas told Czech media the beds were "cots" not cages and "completely normal" if a doctor and guardian agreed to them.
But Council of Europe human rights commissioner Thomas Hammarberg called for a more child-oriented approach.But Council of Europe human rights commissioner Thomas Hammarberg called for a more child-oriented approach.
They have to have an overall clear policy that they shouldn't use beds that have a psychological impact of being imprisoned Thomas HammarbergCommissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe Q&A: Cage bedsThey have to have an overall clear policy that they shouldn't use beds that have a psychological impact of being imprisoned Thomas HammarbergCommissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe Q&A: Cage beds
Mr Necas accused the BBC of "classic journalistic distortion". Mr Necas was quoted by the Aktualne.cz website as saying that his children were in a cot with bars until they were three years old and "it does not matter whether a client is 20, their mental age makes the difference".
He told the Aktualne.cz website that his children were in a cot with bars until they were three years old and "it does not matter whether a client is 20, their mental age makes the difference".
A ministry spokesman, quoted by Czech media, said that the alternative to side rails was increasing the dosage of tranquillisers.A ministry spokesman, quoted by Czech media, said that the alternative to side rails was increasing the dosage of tranquillisers.
In the ministry's opinion it was felt that strong medicine was far worse.In the ministry's opinion it was felt that strong medicine was far worse.
Child safety
But Mr Hammarberg told the BBC News website that arguments about the safety of the child were second to the effect on the child's mental state.But Mr Hammarberg told the BBC News website that arguments about the safety of the child were second to the effect on the child's mental state.
"The psychological impact of having such a bed is negative and that's why anyone concerned with the rights of the child would recommend very highly against it.""The psychological impact of having such a bed is negative and that's why anyone concerned with the rights of the child would recommend very highly against it."
Inspection team
In the BBC report, a girl with severe mental disabilities is shown in a bed, locked behind bars that rise up six feet from the floor.In the BBC report, a girl with severe mental disabilities is shown in a bed, locked behind bars that rise up six feet from the floor.
Jan Fiala of the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre said that the beds shown were cages and could not be considered cotsJan Fiala of the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre said that the beds shown were cages and could not be considered cots
"In a cot a child can't climb out, but cots aren't so high that carers cannot reach them," he said."In a cot a child can't climb out, but cots aren't so high that carers cannot reach them," he said.
Martin Zarsky, who drafted the law for the ministry of social affairs, told the BBC that an inspection team would be sent immediately. A ministry spokesman said only a small percentage of children were placed in such "cots" and he added that the BBC report had been unprofessional.
The report, he said, should have had a response from a care home director and included only one comment from a lengthy interview with the man who drafted the new law for the ministry of social affairs, Martin Zarsky.
Inspection team
In his comment, Mr Zarsky told the BBC that an inspection team would be sent immediately.
The human rights commissioner said the decision to have another look at the care homes in question was a positive step.The human rights commissioner said the decision to have another look at the care homes in question was a positive step.
"They have to have an overall clear policy that they shouldn't use beds that have a psychological impact of being imprisoned," Mr Hammarberg said."They have to have an overall clear policy that they shouldn't use beds that have a psychological impact of being imprisoned," Mr Hammarberg said.
"Hopefully they'll have a child-rights-oriented approach in the future.""Hopefully they'll have a child-rights-oriented approach in the future."