Devendra Kumar
Tens of thousands of poles opposed to abortion laws reform took to the streets of Warsaw to voice their disapproval of the new government’s efforts to liberalize Poland’s strict abortion laws. The country, predominantly Catholic, has a near-total ban on abortion, with the procedure only allowed in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the woman’s life or health. The liberal and pro-European Union ruling coalition, however, is pushing to relax the laws, sparking controversy and protests.
The anti-abortion movement, organized by a federation of anti-abortion groups, brought participants from across the country, many of whom were pushing prams with children and carrying national flags or posters representing a fetus in the womb. The Catholic Church has also thrown its support behind the movement, calling for a day of prayer in defense of conceived life. Poland’s parliament has approved further work on four proposals aimed at lifting the near-ban on abortions. These procedures are expected to be rejected by President Andrzej Duda, who last month vetoed a draft law that would have made the morning-after pill available over the counter from the age of 15.
Despite this, the liberal coalition remains committed to pushing through the proposals, which include decriminalizing assisting a woman to have an abortion, allowing abortions in cases of fetal defects, and permitting terminations through the 12th week. Reproductive rights advocates estimate that up to 120,000 women in Poland have abortions each year, mostly by secretly obtaining pills from abroad. However, the current laws and lack of access to safe and legal abortion have led to a situation in which doctors turn women away even in permitted cases, fearing legal consequences for themselves. The resulting environment is problematic and unpredictable for women seeking reproductive healthcare.
As opposition to the abortion laws reform grows, Poland’s society is meanwhile grappling with an ageing and shrinking population, with a low birth rate of 1.2 children per woman, among the lowest in the European Union. The government is seeking ways to boost the birth rate, which has led to discussions around liberalizing the abortion laws. However, opponents of abortion argue that relaxing the laws would undermine the country’s moral values and promote a culture of death. The debate is likely to continue as Poles weigh the importance of reproductive rights against the country’s conservative values.