Embassy
says there were urgent reasons children in Norway were taken from Czech
parents
A A
Czech mother fighting for the return of her two sons in Norway, who the
authorities took away from her and her former husband over alleged sexual
abuse in 2011, will now see her children only twice a year for a total of
30 minutes.
B Brothers
David and Denis Michalák, born in Norway and now aged six and nine,
were taken from their Czech parents in May 2011 following suspicion voiced by
their nursery school that they had been sexually abused. According to reports,
both boys at the time complained about the situation at home and there were
physical indications in one of possible rape.
C The
police conducted an investigation of both parents but charges never went ahead. The boys
have since lived apart in separate foster homes. Eva Michaláková had
been allowed to meet with the children for two hours annually. The time of
those meetings was reduced to two fifteen minute sessions a year. Ms
Michaláková spoke to Czech TV: “The terms set by the social services are almost
Nazi-like. During my meetings with the boys I will not be able to take any
pictures to lift them up, not even hug them.”
D The Norwegian Embassy in Prague says the mother of the children had
neglected to provide all the information as to why her children were taken
away. The Czech Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Michaela Marksová, who
has been allowed to see parts of the dossier
on the boys and was also present, had a different response, saying this: “First I can sympathize
to a point with Ms Michaláková. But the case really is very complex and I was
able to see parts of the case file. There are things which are of an intimate
character from the family and I think the mother should not make them public.”
E She
added that Norway
simply would not reveal in detail what happened as the country was dedicated to
the protection of children’s and parents’ privacy. The Norwegian Embassy
in Prague
meanwhile issued a statement on its website saying it was not true that the
authorities had acted without reason. The embassy stated that taking children
from their parents was never a “trifle”
and “always a last resort”, the reasons had been urgent and serious.
Adjusted to (1)
dossier
– spis
trifle
– maličkost, hloupost
1) Read the article and match each of the headings to
a paragraph.
1 Mother’s contact with children
2 Case description
3 Reaction of Norwegian Embassy
4 Introduction
5 Marksová’s opinion
2) Read the article and answer the questions.
1 What do you know about Michaláks’ family?
2 Where are David and Denis now?
3 How often can they see their mother?
4 What is the reaction of Czech authorities?
5 What is the reaction of Norwegian Embassy?
3) Explain the following words and phrases.
1 sexual
abuse
2 the
police conducted an investigation
3 foster
homes
4 case
file
5 protection
of children’s and parents’ privacy
4) Answer the following questions.
What
is abuse? What are types of abuse? Who
participates in abuse? How can children protect themselves against sexual abuse?
What would you do in case you suspected parents of a preschool child might
abuse him or her?
Video:
Tips, sources of information:
Source:
(1)
VELINGER,
Jan. Embassy says there were urgent reasons children in Norway were
taken from Czech parents. Český rozhlas [online]. 2015 [cit.
2015-09-21]. Available at: http://www.radio.cz/ en/section/curraffrs/embassy-says-there-were-urgent-reasons-children-in-norway-were-taken-from-czech-parents
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