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The Office for International Legal Protection of Children (hereinafter referred to as the „Office“) was established by the Social and Legal Protection of Children Act (Act No. 359/1999 Coll., § 3). The Office is an administrative body with state-wide authority subordinated to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. It is managed by a Director.
The Office has been designated to act as a “Central Authority” and discharge the duties that are imposed on such authorities by various international conventions and EC regulations. In particular, it provides assistance in the matters of international recovery of child support and other forms of family maintenance, inter-country adoption, international child abduction and rights of access. The Office also acts as a guardian ad litem in court proceedings which involve minors and have cross-border implications.
In the area of maintenance recovery, the Office discharges its duties mainly pursuant to the Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance (New York, 20 June 1956), the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Relating to Maintenance Obligations (The Hague, 2 October 1973) and the Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, and upon its entry into force, pursuant to the Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations.
The activity of the Office in the area of international child abductions is regulated by The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (The Hague 25. 10. 1980), and by the Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1347/2000.
The international adoptions procedure is regulated by the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption (The Hague 29 May 1993).
Being a State authority, the Office is also bound by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (New York 20. 11. 1989), and must therefore regard the best interests of the child as the most important consideration in any action it takes.
