It’s the women of Poland who brought down the populist regime of Jarosław Kaczyński.
One of the major electoral promises of the new government was decriminalization and legalization of abortion. Support for it amongst government voters is 92%. In the general population it is above 70%. Yet, for six months after the elections the three bills to legalize and decriminalize abortion were blocked by the speaker of new parliament, Szymon Hołownia, who is a leader of the Christian fundamentalist minority in the ruling coalition, and who abused his Speaker’s position to prevent abortion bills from being registered and proceeding.
After a public outcry and street protests held by Polish Women’s Strike on March 8th, the date of the first reading of abortion bills in the Polish parliament was set for April 11.
Unfortunately, a coalition opposing these bills has formed, comprising the right-wing ex-government party, the extreme right, and a Christian fundamentalist minority party in the new government, who aim to shoot the abortion bills down in the first reading, stopping them from entering the parliamentary committee stage, where actual change could start.
Here’s what you can do to help:
- SHARE our social media posts:
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- SIGN the appeal for the abortion bills not to be dropped, but sent to committee stage: https://tiny.pl/d7957 (The website is in Polish but right click and choose Translate to English)
- POSE & POST – enlarge and print the A4 solidarity poster (above), take a photo and post it, tagging Polish Women’s Strike
- ACT OFFLINE – mobilize to appear on any day from 8 April to 10 April outside a Polish embassy or consulate, with the printed posters, take photos, tag us!
Hashtags to use:
#AlertForPoland
#SolidarityForPolishWomen
#StrajkKobiet
- If you can, please share our appeal with your friends! We need as many signatures as possible!
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More not good news: Poland’s president vetoes bill on free access to morning-after pill for ages 15 and above
On 22 February 2024, the Sejm passed an amendment to the Pharmaceutical Law. The bill proposed making EllaOne, an emergency contraceptive pill containing ulipristal acetate, available without a prescription for individuals over 15 years old. The Senate adopted the law without amendments on 6 March, and it was sent to the President on 8 March. He had 21 days to sign it, veto it, or refer it to the Constitutional Tribunal.
On 29 March, President Andrzej Duda vetoed the bill. He said he had listened to parents’ voices, which were conveyed in extensive correspondence. He said the bill “introduced unhealthy, sick, and dangerous principles for minors” and should be issued only by prescription with parental consent.
“The President clearly stands for the necessity of protecting the rights and constitutional standard of healthcare for children,” said Presidential Minister Małgorzata Paprocka. “His assessment was completely different when it comes to the availability of the (morning-after) pill for individuals above 18 years old, and that he was open to a debate on free access to hormonal contraception for those aged 18 and above.”
For now, the legal status remains unchanged. Morning-after contraception, primarily “EllaOne”, will be available under existing rules — that is, only with a prescription for those age 18 and above. But Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna said the government would change the regulations to allow EllaOne from 1 May with a “pharmaceutical prescription”.
SOURCE: CTV News, by Associated Press staff, 29 March 2024