What is going on in Poland...
Poland has been a controversial country on the international platform for quite some time now, mostly due to its contentious conservative stances on the issues of climate change, LGBTQ+ community and women’s rights. Lately, the latter have become increasingly altercated, as the Government has expressed interest in expanding the laws regarding abortion.
©Grzegorz Żukowski
In October of 2020 the Constitutional Tribunal released a statement saying that the Antiabortion Act of 1993 (allowing abortion in cases of serious and irreversible handicapping of a foetus and untreatable foetal diseases) is inconsistent with the Constitution, as the foetus has a right to live, as any other individual. Thus, raising the society’s concern about the potential criminalization of abortion. This sparked a series of country-wide protests called Strajk Kobiet (Women’s Protest) opposing such changes.
©Grzegorz Żukowski
Unfortunately, the people’s speculations proved to be true. The idea of banning abortion started becoming more and more of a reality, as works on outlawing it have openly begun. Those actions met with a vehement response from a great part of the Polish society. With the protests intensifying with every week. However, more conservative, supporters of the idea joined as well, raiding the protests and attacking the activists. Ergo, leading to a tense environment and the protests becoming a dangerous and at times violent phenomena.
The situation quieted down for a couple months after the most fervent period. However, a brief weeks ago, on the 22nd of October, the anniversary of the first protest, thousands took to the streets to support the right to abortion. As the Government did not cease working on criminalizing abortion and, moreover a new idea has surfaced. Introduced by a group of citizens, the project passed to the Sejm (which holds the legislative power in Poland alongside the Senate). The project proposes making abortion, even of pregnancy as a result of rape, punishable to up to 25 years of deprivation of freedom in prison or even a life sentence. For comparison, the current sentence for rape in Poland is 2-12 years in prison. That is more than twice the time for aborting an unwanted ramification of a traumatic event, than for violating and raping, sexually assaulting a person.
What needs to be emphasized, is that criminalizing abortion does not stop it from happening, but rather leads to it becoming less safe. Such as was the case in Argentina, mere years ago. The procedures being conducted by incompetent individuals and in questionable conditions. In many cases leading to death or long-term health complications for the women. Furthermore, outlawing abortion questions the right of choice and decision about one’s body every human being is entitled to.
(post by Amnesty International)
The current situation is of such gravity that it has been recognized and addressed with utmost concern by other countries and NGOs. Among other, Amnesty International organized a petition advocating for legal abortion in Poland. Nonetheless, the situation remains dire and in need of intervention.
Aleksandra Paprocka
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