Archive: Society | Family Family
Czech court rules in first-ever case heard on 'coercive sterilisation' of Roma women
Helena Ferencikova and her husband Jan always wanted to have a girl. But
the young Roma couple's simple dream may never be realised, for in October
2001 -- when she was just nineteen years old -- Mrs Ferencikova was
sterilised against her wishes, after giving birth to her second son. On
Friday, the regional court of Ostrava stopped short of awarding damages
but ruled that the hospital which performed the sterilisation owes Mrs
Ferencikova an apology. The court's decision, once finalised in writing,
would be the first finding in any Czech or Eastern European court of legal
violations concerning the coercive sterilisation of Roma women. More
Drinks industry representatives meet in Brussels to discuss underage drinking
Members of the European Forum for Responsible Drinking - which brings
together many of Europe's largest drinks companies - held the latest in a
series of conferences in Brussels on Wednesday. Statistics quoted at the
forum suggest that Czech children start drinking earlier than children
anywhere else in the European Union - on average at the age of eleven. But
is the drinks industry part of the solution, or part of the problem?
Attending the conference on behalf of Czech spirits producers was David
Binar. Radio Prague asked him why he believed Czech children started
drinking so early.
More
Government approves national family policy
The Czech Republic currently has one of the lowest birth rates in the
world, second only to Ukraine and China. Although there are conflicting
views as to whether the state should interfere with demographic trends,
the government has now approved a national family policy which would make
it easier for Czechs to have children and enjoy parenthood.
More
