Hnutí Pro život ČR

Hnutí Pro život ČR (HPŽ ČR) is a registered association (zapsaný spolek) operating in the Czech Republic as part of the orthodox, conservative and anti-abortion pro-life movement. It was formally founded in 1992 as Hnutí Pro život and renamed to its current title in 1999, when the originally Jihlava-based organisation became a nationwide body. It describes itself as the largest Czech pro-life organisation. Its chairman is Radim Ucháč. The association states that it seeks to "restore social respect for the lives of unborn children." According to its own account, it works to prevent abortions, to help women who feel pressured into abortion, and to support those who experience psychological difficulties after an abortion. Since 2001 it has organised the annual Pochod pro život (March for Life) in Prague. In 2017 the march reportedly drew about five thousand participants according to its supporters, and in 2019 organisers claimed roughly ten thousand participants; these figures are unverified and may be overstated. Since 2006 the movement has run a counselling helpline, Linka pomoci, for women expecting a child. In 2007 it began the project Modlitby za nejmenší (Prayers for the Littlest), in which more than three thousand people reportedly take part, praying daily "for the renewal of a culture of life in our country, for the restoration of respect for the life of every child from the moment of its conception." In 2014 it founded the project Nesoudíme. Pomáháme (We Do Not Judge. We Help), which it says offers assistance to women who become unexpectedly pregnant. The official website presents this project as offering listening, courage and hope, and practical help including accompaniment during pregnancy, help with the family's economic situation and orientation in the social system, funds for deposits or temporary mortgage payments, legal counselling and representation, and material assistance. The help is described as free of charge and not formally limited because the movement is not financially dependent on the state. Five times a year the association publishes the Informační oběžník HPŽ ČR, a magazine covering developments in abortion and the association's own activities. It is also intensively engaged in lobbying on laws and other legislative measures affecting its work, and in informing about them. Since 2018 it has highlighted the social and economic disadvantage of economically active families with three or more children. In 2019 it proposed redirecting money from European funds to economic support for such families and pointed to the future positive effects of this support on demographic development in the Czech Republic and on the sustainability of the pension system. In September 2019 Prime Minister Andrej Babiš promised support for economically active families with three or more children. In cooperation with the Czech Gynaecological and Obstetric Society, Hnutí Pro život obtained a promise from health insurers that they would reimburse gynaecologists for time spent counselling pregnant patients. The movement also pursues activities aimed at making surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy available to Czech women, in which the embryo would be transferred to the correct place in the uterus. In 2019 it sought to have health insurers reimburse artificial insemination if two years of treatment of the causes of a couple's infertility does not lead to natural conception, arguing that infertility is practically not treated at all in the Czech Republic despite European guidelines recommending it. The association represents a conservative Catholic current and has drawn criticism both from the pro-choice side and, historically, from more liberal church circles and Christian-democratic politicians. In 2020 vice-president Zdeňka Rybová expressed support for the Polish ban on abortion even in cases of severe foetal impairment.

Hnutí Pro život ČR was formally founded in 1992 as Hnutí Pro život. It was originally based in Jihlava and became a nationwide organisation in 1999, when it was renamed to its current title. It is the largest Czech pro-life organisation. Its chairman is Radim Ucháč. Since 2001 the movement has organised the annual Pochod pro život (March for Life) in Prague. In 2017 the march reportedly drew about five thousand participants according to its supporters, and in 2019 organisers claimed roughly ten thousand participants; these figures are unverified and may be overstated. Since 2006 it has run the counselling helpline Linka pomoci for women expecting a child. In 2007 it began the project Modlitby za nejmenší (Prayers for the Littlest), in which more than three thousand people reportedly take part, praying daily for the renewal of a culture of life and respect for every child from conception. In 2014 it filed a lawsuit against the State Institute for Drug Control over the sale of the abortion pill; the lawsuit was dismissed. In the same year it founded the project Nesoudíme. Pomáháme (We Do Not Judge. We Help), which it says offers help to women who become unexpectedly pregnant. Five times a year the association publishes the Informační oběžník HPŽ ČR, a magazine covering developments in abortion and the association's activities. It is also intensively engaged in lobbying on laws and other legislative measures affecting its work, and in informing about them. Since 2018 it has highlighted the social and economic disadvantage of economically active families with three or more children. In 2019 it proposed redirecting money from European funds to economic support for such families and pointed to positive effects on demographic development and the sustainability of the pension system. In September 2019 Prime Minister Andrej Babiš promised support for economically active families with three or more children. In cooperation with the Czech Gynaecological and Obstetric Society, Hnutí Pro život obtained a promise from health insurers that they would reimburse gynaecologists for time spent counselling pregnant patients. The movement also pursues activities aimed at making surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy available to Czech women, in which the embryo would be transferred to the correct place in the uterus. In 2019 it sought to have health insurers reimburse artificial insemination if two years of treatment of the causes of a couple's infertility does not lead to natural conception, arguing that infertility is practically not treated at all in the Czech Republic despite European guidelines recommending it. The association represents a conservative Catholic current and has drawn criticism both from the pro-choice side and, historically, from more liberal church circles and Christian-democratic politicians. In 2020 vice-president Zdeňka Rybová expressed support for the Polish ban on abortion even in cases of severe foetal impairment. In March 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hnutí pro život together with the Prague Archbishopric organised a mass for "unborn children" celebrated by Dominik Duka; although pandemic measures then allowed participation in religious gatherings only within one's own district, the archbishopric invited people from other districts to Prague, with the movement making them organisers on paper so they could attend. In early April 2022 the movement criticised aid in the form of emergency contraception for Ukrainian women raped by Russian soldiers during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, proposing instead the purchase of whistles, pepper sprays or electric stun guns. In May of that year it received the anti-award Bludný balvan (Wandering Boulder) in the teams category for 2021. In May 2022 Neil Datta wrote about the pro-life movement's links to Russian money. In May 2024 an open letter by MUDr. Vít Dvořák, signed by more than a thousand health professionals, objected to the movement's participation in a professional gynaecological conference of the Czech Medical Association (ČLS JEP) in Karlovy Vary.

• 2024

  Open letter by MUDr. Vít Dvořák against the movement's participation in a gynaecological conference.

• 2022

  Criticised emergency contraception aid for Ukrainian women; received the Bludný balvan anti-award.

• 2021

  Organised a mass for unborn children with the Prague Archbishopric during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2020

  Vice-president Zdeňka Rybová expressed support for the Polish ban on abortion.

• 2019

  Proposed redirecting European funds to support families with three or more children; Prime Minister Andrej Babiš promised support.

• 2018

  Began highlighting the social and economic disadvantage of families with three or more children.

• 2017

  March for Life reportedly drew about five thousand participants.

• 2014

  Filed a lawsuit against the State Institute for Drug Control over the abortion pill; founded the Nesoudíme. Pomáháme project.

• 2007

  Launched the Modlitby za nejmenší project.

• 2006

  Started operating the Linka pomoci counselling helpline.

• 2001

  Began organising the annual Pochod pro život (March for Life) in Prague.

• 1999

  Renamed to Hnutí Pro život ČR and became a nationwide organisation.

• 1992

  Formally founded as Hnutí Pro život.

Conservative Catholic pro-life association providing counselling and practical aid to women facing unexpected pregnancy, while lobbying against abortion.

• Linka pomoci helpline

  Free counselling helpline for women expecting a child, operating since 2006.

• Nesoudíme. Pomáháme project

  Project founded in 2014 offering practical help to women who become unexpectedly pregnant.

• Informační oběžník HPŽ ČR

  Magazine published five times a year covering abortion developments and the association's activities.

1. 1Hnutí pro život official websitehnutiprozivot.cz
2. 2Hnutí Pro život ČR - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hnutí Pro život ČR - Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org