Abortion opponents march through Prague

Prague, March 26 (CTK) - About a thousand people marched through Prague centre to protest against abortions, some carrying white wooden crosses, others photos of newborn babies, pictures of saints or banners saying "Gynaecologists, Don't Be Contract Killers" and "Tolerance From Conception" Saturday.

"We don't agree with abortion. This is why we are here," a woman participating in the march said.

The 11th March for Life was preceded by a mass for unborn children celebrated by Prague Archbishop Dominik Duka at St Giles Church in the city's historical centre.

The number of abortions has recently been falling in the Czech Republic.

A petition calling for a ban on abortions was circulated at the event. It has had some 10,000 signatures under it so far.

A majority of the population are against the introduction of such a ban.

The march was organised by the Pro Life Movement (Hnuti pro zivot CR). Apart from campaigns against abortion, the group wants to make human sexuality respectable again and supports the classical model of family.

The group says more than 3,227,000 people did not have the right to be born in the Czech Republic since 1957. It claims that this has an impact on demography, affecting the health care and pension systems.

According to the Czech Statistical Office data, doctors performed 24,000 abortions in 2010. In 2006 it was 25,476 and in 1993 nearly 70,000. The decrease in abortions is related to more frequent use of contraception pills among women. About 52 percent of fertile Czech women take the pills, which is highest rate in Europe except for France.