All posts by pan Psax

The Alliance for Family (Aliance pro rodinu, APR), a Czech ultraconservative interest group, has recently found itself embroiled in multiple controversies. This organization, known for its opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, same-sex marriage, and abortion, has been criticised for its undemocratic practices and potential ties to international ultraconservative movements.

Legal Dispute and Russian Influence
In a recent development, Olga Richterová, Vice-Chair of the Chamber of Deputies, won a legal dispute against APR. Richterová has drawn parallels between APR’s rhetoric and that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly concerning given Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and attempts to divide Europeans through hybrid warfare tactics.

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In recent years, the debate surrounding home births has intensified in the Czech Republic, a country known for its excellent perinatal care outcomes without any religion-driven bias. Debates about home births on social media are often very heated. Women who choose to give birth at home are considered irresponsible and called with disdain eso-mothers (esotericism) or bio-women, that rely on the dubious practices of alternative medicine and anything “natural”. As skeptics committed to evidence-based approaches, it’s crucial for us to examine this issue critically and unbiased, considering the available data and expert opinions from the medical community.

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We wholeheartedly welcome the Constitutional Court’s decision to abolish the legal requirements for surgery and sterilization as a condition for official sex change. This decision is an important victory for personal autonomy and human dignity for transgender and non-binary people in our country.

In its ruling, the Constitutional Court today clearly stated that the legal requirements of genital reassignment surgery and disabling reproductive function are in direct conflict with trans people’s fundamental right to the protection of their bodily integrity and personal autonomy, and thus violate their human dignity. Transgender identity is not a disease and gender reassignment should not be conditional on interference with bodily integrity, which is irreversible and can have serious health consequences.

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Sexualized violence is a dark stain on the face of Czech society, affecting the lives of thousands of women every year. New research presented by proFem and MindBridge Consulting presents alarming data on the economic impact and consequences that ripple through our society.
The research found that more than half of women have experienced some form of sexualized violence, while one in five women have experienced rape.

Although we often discuss the physical consequences such as injuries, research reveals extensive psychological, social and health implications. Victims face heightened sensitivity, lowered self-esteem and even chronic illnesses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is worrying to note that only 32% of the women who needed medical help actually sought it, which clearly shows the barriers to accessing the necessary services that exist.

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A case of sexual abuse by one of the biggest personas of the Czech psychiatric community is now seeing its day in court. Dr. Jan Cimický, once a prominent psychiatrist who helped establish the field in the country (and also novelist, poet, translator, playwright and screenwriter), is currently on trial facing charges relating to 39 accounts of sexual assault and misconduct spanning decades.

At the beginning of the trial, the prosecutor read the text of the indictment for one whole hour.

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