Archive: Society | Crime Crime
Survey: Nearly one in two Czech women have experienced domestic abuse
A fresh survey suggests that nearly one in two Czech women at one point in
their life have become victims of some form of domestic abuse. The poll,
published by the NGO proFem, also concludes that about a third of those
affected are afraid to speak up. One of the authors of the survey,
sociologist Kamil Kunc, explains its conclusions, what can be done to
improve the situation and how the data was gathered. More
Controversial Prague lobbyist charged with bodily harm; may face further charges connected to wire tap scandal
Prague police have charged the controversial lobbyist Roman Janoušek with
menacing behaviour due to intoxication as well as grievous bodily harm. On
Friday, Mr Janoušek crashed his Porsche into another car in Prague 4, then
hit its driver as he attempted to flee. The news came as the construction
tycoon already found himself in the headlines due to scandal over leaked
wire taps of conversations between him and former mayor of Prague Pavel
Bém. More
Study: Obesity, smoking and drug abuse on the rise among Czech adolescents
Czech researchers from the University of Olomouc made a significant
contribution to the latest Health Behavior of School-Aged Children Research
Study. Sadly, its conclusions point to a worrying trend: Czech adolescents,
and their counterparts across Europe, are living an increasingly sedentary
lifestyle. As a result, obesity, drug abuse and smoking among those aged 18
and under are on the rise. We spoke to one of the Czech researchers
involved in the international study, Michal Kalman. More
Cakes for freedom – tongue-in-cheek happening to support artist facing controversial prison sentence kicks off in Prague
Activists are holding a protest happening in front of Prague’s Pankrác
prison, where Czech artist Roman Týc on Friday afternoon is starting a
one-month prison sentence for a 2007 art project that involved defacing
fifty traffic lights in Prague by changing the standard red and green
figures to show them in situations such as drinking, urinating and hanging
themselves. The artist says he chose prison time over paying a fine because
otherwise he would be renouncing the project’s message. Titled “Bábovka
pro Týce” or “A cake for Týc”, the happening is as tongue-in-cheek
as the art project itself – as a sign of their solidarity, participants
will bring cakes to the prison, an allusion to the well-known prison
cliché of a cake with a file in it. Ahead of the start at 2 p.m., we spoke
to co-organizer Magda Vídeňská about the unusual happening. More
Survey shows drinking among 16-year-olds on rise
The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) has
found that the number of 16-year-olds in the Czech Republic who drink beer
or hard liquor on a regular basis has gone up. Back in 1995, 14 percent of
the country’s sixteen-year-olds drank at least three times a month, but
last year the percentage moved up to 20. By contrast, marijuana use
dropped, if only slightly. More
Government moves to give crime victims more support and greater protection
Being a crime victim can be a shattering experience and many who have
personally experienced it say that reporting the incident and the
investigation that follows can be equally agonizing. At the present time
there is no code of conduct specifying how the police or state attorneys
should treat crime victims and critics say their conduct often leaves much
to be desired. The Czech government has now moved to correct that approving
an amendment to the law which would give crime victims more support and
greater protection. More
Prague court delivers landmark ruling in home births advocates’ battle with the state
A ruling on Thursday by a Prague court might lead to a breakthrough in the
ongoing Czech debate about home births. While state officials and health
care providers have consistently opposed the practice over safety concerns,
the court decided that mothers indeed have the right to choose the place of
their child’s delivery, and the state has to provide all necessary
assistance. More
Police arrest two men in series of appalling tomb robberies
The Czech police have arrested two men suspected of robbing more than 70
graves in northern Bohemia. The men mainly targeted older, unkempt tombs in
the region in search of gold teeth, medals and other relics. The
investigators were shocked by their callousness; one of them said he was
more interested in the thrill of tomb raiding than the actual loot. More
Prosecutors rule out murder in north Bohemian shooting
Prosecutors investigating a New Year’s Day shooting in the north Bohemian
town of Tanvald, which left a Romany man dead and injured another, have
ruled out murder or any other premeditated crime. The investigators on
Friday said the 63-year-old shooter was facing an intense assault by two
Romany men in a conflict that had no racial or material motives. More
Panorama
Panorama : thousands of people undertake a traditional New Year’s
pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Virgin Mary in Hostýn, over a dozen
enthusiasts strap on wooden skis to mark the centenary of the first
downhill ski race in Central Europe and -home is where the heart is – a
stray dog keeps returning to the dog shelter where a vet saved his life. More
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