Surgical castrations of sexual offenders: degrading treatment? : the dialogue between the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Ihuman or Degreading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and the Czech Republic

Abstract

Surgical castration as a treatment of sexual offenders is a method that raises a passionate and emotional debate on how to treat sexual offenders without violating their human rights on the one hand, and how to protect the society as effectively as possible on the other hand. This thesis tries to present in a balanced manner the arguments for and against the use of surgical castrations in the concrete context of protective sexological treatment in the Czech Republic. It focuses on the dialogue between the Czech authorities and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), whereas the Czech Republic wants to preserve voluntary surgical castration as a possible treatment of sexual offenders and the CPT recommends its complete abolition. The information gained during the research on the topic from the Czech and international physicians, psychologists, sexual offenders, governmental representatives and lawyers serve to further develop the impact of the dialogue on the CPT as well as on the Czech Republic and even on the other European countries.