Polish women protest against strict abortion laws and government inaction

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 08:02 · Archive

Women are demonstrating in more than 20 Polish cities to demand free and legal abortion access.

Women are planning street demonstrations in more than 20 Polish cities and towns to protest Poland's strict abortion laws. They are accusing Prime Minister Donald Tusk's liberal government of failing to fulfil its promise to relax Poland's abortion restrictions.

Although parliament passed two bills on Tuesday aimed at easing abortion rules, activists argue these represent 'token gestures' rather than genuine reform. The measures are likely to be vetoed by conservative President Karol Nawrocki. Zofia Marcinek of the Abortion Dream Team, a reproductive rights group in Warsaw, said the liberal government knew the draft laws stood no chance of surviving the veto and had merely tried to create the impression of action because it needs women's support to win elections next year.

Since 1993, legal abortions in Catholic Poland have been permitted only in cases of severe fetal abnormality, risk to the mother's life or health, or when a pregnancy results from rape or incest. Polish women have been campaigning for abortion liberalisation for decades, including through the 'Black Protest' movement of nationwide demonstrations that began in 2016. The laws were tightened further in 2020 under the previous national-conservative Law and Justice government, which banned abortions of fetuses with congenital defects.

How it is being reported

• Women are protesting around Poland for free access to legal abortionsWomen are protesting around Poland for access to free and legal abortion services.Clickorlando · 22 Oct, 07:36
• Women are protesting around Poland for free access to legal abortionsWomen are protesting around Poland for access to free and legal abortion services.News4Jax · 22 Oct, 07:36

In this story: Poland · Donald Tusk · Karol Nawrocki · Zofia Marcinek · Abortion Dream Team

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