A/HRC/8/52 page 193 600. The Czech Republic deeply appreciated the contribution of human rights defenders to the protection of human rights and actively supported effective measures to improve their protection and to promote their activities worldwide. The Government remains committed to maintaining an environment conducive to the work of human rights defenders in the Czech Republic as well, enabling individuals, groups and associations to freely carry out activities to promote and further the protection of human rights. The Government Council for Human Rights, where an open dialogue between the Government and civil society representatives takes place, is one of the examples of such an environment. 601. Regarding the cases of sterilization of women without their proper informed prior consent, the Ombudsman identified 50 such cases. In some of them complaints were filed with a court, and in one case financial compensation of 200,000 euros was awarded together with an apology. In another case, an apology was awarded by the hospital. In response to these findings, additional measures were taken to improve the effectiveness of existing legal safeguards against such sterilizations. Detailed rules on sterilization will become part of the new law on specific medical services, which is being prepared and is expected to come into force in 2009. Further, the Government would be considering the proposal made by the Council to establish an interdepartmental working commission to examine past sterilization practices starting from 1 July 1966. 602. On the issue of cage beds in health-care and social care facilities, cage beds or net-beds have been banned by law since 1 January 2007. In health-care facilities the use of restraining means is currently regulated by internal guidelines, not by law. In March this year, the Government approved a motion requesting the Ministry of Health to prepare a new legal regulation which should follow the Council’s recommendations and contain a set of detailed rules and safeguards for use of any restraining means in health-care facilities. 603. The Government had for many years been exercising its strong resolve to fighting trafficking in human beings. The recommendations in this area enjoy its full support and are being implemented in compliance with the National Strategy of Fighting against Trafficking in Human Beings, which is being implemented since 2003 and is updated every two years. A number of measures continue to be taken regarding repression, prevention and care for the victims of trafficking, in accordance with the Palermo Protocol and other relevant international agreements and recommendations. 604. In the area of the protection of child rights and support to families, the Government’s current activities and plans in this regard conformed to the recommendations made. In March 2008, the Government tasked the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to prepare a proposal on necessary measures for the transformation of the system of child protection, which would be submitted to the Government by the end of 2008. The long-term objective of this reform is to strengthen prevention and social assistance provided to families at risk and to improve conditions for the foster care in order to prevent the institutionalization of children. The Government is aware of the need to enable parents to combine their work and family life. A new system of a three-speed drawdown of parental allowance was introduced in January 2008, entitling parents to choose from three options of drawdown of parental allowance according to their reconciliation strategy, thus allowing families to choose the length of personal child care freely and to share responsibilities for child care within the family.