Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Czech Republic, 2008

Contents warning - may upset

Evidence has come to light that the Czech Republic still has homes for those with severe physical and mental handicaps, in which the patients are kept in cage-beds. Like below.

This is an illegal practice, but is still prevalent in many homes across the Czech Republic. This country, part of Czechoslovakia until the amiable separation with Slovakia in 1991, is a prosperous nation, but with some very conservative views. The severely handicapped are kept hidden away, out of sight i.e. out of mind. An undercover team from the BBC visited one home and saw the practice with their own eyes. The patients are kept in cage beds, with nothing being done for them. The Czech Ministry of Social Affairs quotes funding problems for the continuation of the practice.

Follow the links for more background information, but please bear the above contents warning in mind. The report will be shown on the Ten o'Clock News on BBC1 tonight - it can be viewed live online from the link on this page.

For those in the US - 10pm British Time is 5pm EST, 4pm CST, 3pm MST and 2pm PST.

18 comments:

  1. oh my..I can't watch this kind of stuff..it gets to me.
    I can't believe some country's practices and ignorance about people with mental disease.
    Hope they (government) open their eyes soon because that is not the way to live.
    Thanks for sharing this news..
    Gem~

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  2. Ignorant people act ignorantly................

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  3. It really is so awful to think that in this day and age there is still this kind of horror in our "civilized ?" world....I don't blame the staff in these places as I don't expect they are actually paid much to look after these poor children and young adults, and perhaps have much to put up with within their own environment.   The only thing that will change things is for the BBC and any others to bring it into the public eye     and remind people that this is hapening in countries where they are having holidays....if they didn't go and told the government why  it would soon get things changed I think.  Thank you as always for bringing these things to our notice   Sybil x

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  4. I`m completely shocked Guido, as you know we visited Prague in November and found them to be a very modern and forward thinking society. How dreadful that they still don`t treat the less mentally able with the care and respect they deserve.

    Love Sandra xx

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  5. Guido~
    It's just disgusting that this practice is still happening. But I can say that I'm not surprised that the Czech Republic is still treating these people so inhumanely. Awful, just awful.

    Huggers,
    Gayla

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  6. So very, very sad that any human being can be treated so .. inhumanely. the Czech Republic should feel shame and disgust at themselves.  

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  7. Absolutely horrendous Guido, that in this day and age people can be treated in this hideous fashion.  I know many childrens' homes are the same.  It reminds so much of the Nazis and their policy of treating those who are different.  They have to stop treating these poor people like so much dust you can just sweep under the carpet.

    http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

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  8. Your is the one Journal I am rushing to visit here, Guido, as I'm still at the library while my PC is down at home.  Yes, storms coming my way.  Wanted to make contact with just 1 JLander, and you came to mind immediately.  xo CATHY

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  9. This is soooooooooo sad, and there has been a lot on the news shows here about this horrible treatment over there.  Hope it changes with more public out cry.  Take care,
    Joyce

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  10. Guido,
    Thanks for spreading this awareness...it's horrific.    But we need to know to stop it.

    Nancy

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  11. This is nightmarish and should be stopped immediately!  How can this still be possible in this day and age in a European country.
    I am off to watch the news now for more information.
    Scandalous is the word and I hope the world bears down on Czechoslovakia's Ministry of Social Affairs and forces them to to cease this inhumane practice!
    Dear God...is there no hearts inside these folks?
    Jeanie

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  12. thanks for making us open our eyes....that is terrible....
    Guido, on another note, thank you for the beautiful tribute to Kim on her obituary....that was very heartfelt. i sometimes feel so weak, compared to what she has gone through...i should be able to overcome this. thanks for posting your comment and for your comforting words. Kelly(kim's sister)

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  13. This is so disturbing - it makes my heart ache.
    Lisa

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  14. This is just sick.

    But it needs to be seen and addressed.  Thank you, for opening eyes and hearts to this horrific treatment of our fellow humans.  

    Michelle

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  15. Hearbreaking... truly...

    be well,
    Dawn
    http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

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  16. The cruelty of this practice is beyond understanding. I do know in the 1800-early 1900's people used to have such places as hidden rooms in their attics to hide away mentally disabled or handicapped children, almost like a horrible family secret. I think they used to call these rooms Wishing Rooms or Panic Rooms. The child was never allowed to venture beyond this small space hidden away. The door was locked from the outside and food was brought to them. I had thought these abhoring ethnics had been long gone. Apparently not and now they leave them on display in cages like animals. (Hugs) Indigo

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  17. I've seen reports about this before absolutely horrible, its hard to imagine in this day and age.

    Yasmin

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  18. This is horrible!
    Lori

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