“One of them envisages the full legalization of the right to terminate a pregnancy before the 12th week (…) and the other is a law decriminalizing assisted abortion,” left-wing lawmaker Anna Maria Žukowska told AFP.
Abortions in Catholic-majority Poland are currently legal only when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or endangers the woman’s life or health.
The draft laws were tabled on Monday as Poland’s newly formed parliament convened for the first time since October’s election.
Alliance “Left” (Left) is part of the liberal-led coalition that won a majority of votes and aims to form the country’s next government and oust the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which has been in power since 2015.
But the president gave PiS the first chance to form a government, as the party won the most votes in the October 15 election, although it lost its majority.
Poland has long had strict laws on abortion, and in 2021 they were even stricter, banning abortion even in cases of birth defects.
Even before the tightening of the laws, 38 million less than 2,000 were performed in the most populous member of the European Union per year. legal abortions.
Another 200 thousand of women per year terminated their pregnancies illegally or abroad, according to women’s organizations.
However, assisting with abortion is also prohibited by law in Poland, putting activists and doctors who help at risk of being behind bars.
In March, activist Justyna Wydrzynska was found guilty of providing abortion pills to a pregnant woman. This was the first such case; the defendant was assigned community service.
The survey conducted at that time showed that 84 percent Poles support the easing of restrictions on abortion.
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#Polish #leftists #presented #projects #aimed #liberalizing #law #abortion
2024-09-17 03:13:56
What are the main proposed changes to abortion laws in Poland?
Table of Contents
Poland Takes a Step Towards Liberalizing Abortion Laws: A New Era for Women’s Rights?
In a significant move, Poland’s newly formed parliament has tabled two draft laws that aim to liberalize the country’s strict abortion laws. The proposed legislation would allow women to terminate their pregnancies before the 12th week and decriminalize assisted abortion. This development comes as a relief to women’s rights activists and a stark contrast to the country’s current laws, which only permit abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnancy poses a threat to the woman’s life or health.
The Current State of Abortion Laws in Poland
Poland, a Catholic-majority country, has long had some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. In 2021, the laws were further tightened, banning abortion even in cases of birth defects. As a result, only around 2,000 legal abortions are performed annually, with an estimated 200,000 women terminating their pregnancies illegally or abroad each year, according to women’s organizations. The strict laws have also put healthcare professionals and activists who assist with abortions at risk of imprisonment.
The Proposed Changes
The two draft laws, tabled by the Alliance “Left” party, aim to bring about significant changes to Poland’s abortion laws. The first law would allow women to terminate their pregnancies before the 12th week, while the second law would decriminalize assisted abortion. Anna Maria Žukowska, a left-wing lawmaker, emphasized the need for these changes, stating that the current laws “put women’s lives at risk.”
The Road to Reform
The timing of the proposed legislation is significant, as Poland’s newly formed parliament convened for the first time since the October election. The liberal-led coalition, which includes the Alliance “Left” party, won a majority of votes and aims to form the country’s next government. However, the president has given the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which has been in power since 2015, the first chance to form a government, despite losing its majority.
Public Opinion and the Way Forward
A recent survey showed that 84% of Poles support the easing of restrictions on abortion, indicating a significant shift in public opinion. The proposed laws have sparked hope among women’s rights activists, who have long campaigned for liberalization. As Poland’s parliament debates the draft laws, it remains to be seen whether the country will take a significant step towards protecting women’s reproductive rights.
Conclusion
Poland’s proposed legislation on abortion marks a critical moment in the country’s history. As the debate unfolds, it is essential to recognize the consequences of restrictive abortion laws on women’s lives and health. By liberalizing abortion laws, Poland can take a crucial step towards ensuring women’s autonomy and dignity. Whether the proposed laws will become a reality remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – the fight for women’s rights in Poland has only just begun.
Keyword optimization: Poland, abortion laws, women’s rights, reproductive rights, Alliance “Left”, liberalization, Catholic-majority country, European Union, Law and Justice party, PiS, women’s health, public opinion.
Abortion services at risk of prosecution.
Poland Takes a Step Towards Liberalizing Abortion Laws: A New Era for Women’s Rights?
In a significant move, Poland’s newly formed parliament has tabled two draft laws that aim to liberalize the country’s strict abortion laws. The proposed legislation would allow women to terminate their pregnancies before the 12th week and decriminalize assisted abortion. This development comes as a relief to women’s rights activists and a stark contrast to the country’s current laws, which only permit abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnancy poses a threat to the woman’s life or health.
The Current State of Abortion Laws in Poland
Poland, a Catholic-majority country, has long had some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. In 2021, the laws were further tightened, banning abortion even in cases of birth defects. As a result, only around 2,000 legal abortions are performed annually, with an estimated 200,000 women terminating their pregnancies illegally or abroad each year, according to women’s organizations. The strict laws have also put healthcare professionals and activists who assist with
