Abortion in Poland: politics, progression and regression.

Abstract

On the 23rd March 2018, tens of thousands of Polish citizens came together to stage protests opposing the “Stop Abortion” bill. In what has become known as the #BlackProtest movement, people dressed in black to mark their solidarity against attempts to restrict abortion. Their protest continues the line of an enduring movement, not only in Poland but across the world, for women’s right to safe abortion. Reproductive Health Matters (RHM) – a long-standing voice in support of women’s right to safe abortion – joined more than 200 other groups from across the world in support of the Polish protest movement to oppose the bill tightening abortion law in Poland. A letter called on members of Poland’s parliament to “listen to the voices of women across Poland and to reject this regressive legislative proposal and protect women’s health and human rights”. The “Stop Abortion” bill was approved for debate in January this year and got through the parliamentary committee in March. If passed, legislation will further confine the grounds on which abortion can be lawfully accessed. Poland has restrictive abortion laws which currently allow the procedure to be legally performed only if there is severe danger to the life of a woman or foetus, or if the pregnancy is a result of a criminal act, such as rape or incest. In the latest attempt to change the law, the ruling party in Poland is seeking to ban abortion in cases where the foetus has a severe abnormality. Slightly over one thousand abortions were legally performed in Poland in 2016. It is believed that there are many more illegal abortions, with estimates lying between 50,000 and 200,000. Women also travel to neighbouring countries in Europe to seek abortion, while others purchase abortion pills from the internet. Modern contraceptive methods are not freely available in Poland. The morning after pill, for example, requires a prescription and a consultation with a doctor. The condom is the only over the counter contraception available. In 2015, the use of modern methods of contraception was 47.7% among married or inunion women aged 15–49 years, one of the lowest in Europe.