-News from the 26 August 2024: Call on Poland newsletter
-Prime Minister Tusk has said that it is unlikely that there will be a majority for the liberalisation of the abortion law during the current parliamentary term – that is, until at least 2027.
-Updated guidelines on implementing the abortion law were published by the Prosecutor’s Office, but they were disappointing. The language used was stigmatizing (e.g. “abortion is always a trauma”), and the guidelines on how to treat women were vague. Although previous advocacy meetings with the Ministry were positive, these guidelines appear weak, possibly due to political pressure following the rejection of the decriminalisation law. The guidelines included some positive aspects, such as informing women they won’t be punished, but the overall tone was problematic. Concerns were also raised about law enforcement potentially seizing personal digital devices from those assisting in obtaining abortions.
The Prosecutor’s Office set up a team to study abortions since 2016, about 200 cases. Most of the cases did not lead to convictions; most were punished with social work, not prison. The only positive thing in these guidelines is that they will inform women they won’t be punished.
Update on the Pregnancy Register
Registration will now be done “on request” rather than automatically, which is seen as a positive development.
-News from the 9 September 2024: Call on Poland newsletter:
The Center for Reproductive Rights expects the CEDAW recommendations to be implemented within six months. A meeting with the government is scheduled, along with discussions with members of Parliament.
Marta Lempart reports that a new bill has been introduced by members of the ruling party. Work on it will not start for at least 1.5 or 2 months, due to opposition within Hołownia’s party – they don’t want to proceed with the plan in the committee. Negotiations are ongoing to maintain the same committee setup as the previous bill.
There are rumours of an abortion referendum being considered alongside presidential elections, but these remain unconfirmed and unsubstantiated.
Signature collection for abortion legalisation continues, with efforts to push for decriminalisation once the issue reaches Parliament.
The new abortion guidelines from the Ministry of Health focus on legal aspects rather than medical considerations. While presented positively by international media, the guidelines largely reiterate the 1993 law, without mentioning modern abortion methods.
The Ministry had received advice on more recent techniques, but these were not included. The narrative is making it more challenging to secure financial support as people still struggle to access abortion services, often paying up to 1,000 euros. Prime Minister Tusk mentioned that guidelines should reassure clinic workers.
Meanwhile, the Abortion Dream Team has opened a clinic in Warsaw, supported by a GoFundMe campaign, with plans to establish it on a central, easily accessible street.
And FEDERA is opening a medical centre offering abortion services, gynaecological care, and other sexual health services, with a grand opening planned in the coming weeks. While the Abortion Dream Team will focus on abortion care, FEDERA’s centre will emphasise broader sexual health.
Amnesty Poland has launched a new campaign, “200 Ways to Help with Abortion” and is preparing a Human Rights Academy course on abortion rights, soon to be available in Polish.
SOURCES: Abortion laws, report by FEDERA and Amnesty Poland. Call on Poland Newsletter. E-mail: 26 August 2024. Please note that some aspects of these news items, e.g. the contents of the CEDAW recommendations, were reported in the ICWRSA Newsletter on 6 September 2024, see reports on pages 1 and 2 at: https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/news/.