Battle over abortion law heats up in Catholic Poland

Series Title
Series Details 22.09.16
Publication Date 22/09/2016
Content Type

Poland's parliament (Sejm) resumed discussion on 22 September 2016 its debate on different initiatives regarding either to liberalise or further tighten Poland's abortion law. The existing law is already one of the strictest in Europe.

While the governing rightwing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which controls parliament, generally favoured banning abortion, its leaders were well aware that most Poles supported existing legislation.

The pro-Choice proposals were rejected by the Sejm on the 23 September 2016, and it passed a bill stipulating jail sentences for women who terminated a pregnancy.

Polish pro-choice activists called on all Polish women to strike on 3 October 2016 in protest at the planned abortion ban. By the 5 October 2016 it appeared that the ruling Law and Justice Party had backed down and would now vote against the bill which it had supported only a week earlier. The proposal was rejected in parliament on the following day.

Attempts to make Poland’s stringent sexual and reproductive health laws still more restrictive led to a heated debate in the European Parliament on the 5 October 2016. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) focused on the propsed national bill to ban all abortions, but the European Parliament’s legal right to debate the topic was also contested.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/battle-over-abortion-law-heats-up-in-catholic-poland/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: The Polish Catholic Church has become intertwined with Euroscepticism and the promotion of conservative 'national values' http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-polish-catholic-church-has-become-intertwined-with-euroscepticism-and-the-promotion-of-conservative-national-values/
ESO: Background information: Poles protest against proposed abortion ban http://www.europeansources.info/record/poles-protest-against-proposed-abortion-ban/
The Guardian, 21.09.16: [Opinion] Stop this crackdown on abortion in Poland https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/21/stop-abortion-law-crackdown-poland-reproductive-rights
Radio Poland, 18.09.16: Hundreds demonstrate against proposed abortion ban http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/271542,Hundreds-demonstrate-against-proposed-abortion-ban
TIME, 16.09.16: This Polish Law Would Imprison Women Who Have Abortions http://motto.time.com/4495681/poland-abortion-law-protest-amnesty-interational/
EUObserver, 23.09.16: Irish and Polish people march for abortion https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/135216
ESO: Find further information in ESO on this topic http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=poland%20abortion%20&searchOption=all
Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2016: Will Poland soon have a total ban on abortion? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/166902/will-poland-soon-have-a-total-ban-on-abortion
Radio Poland, 23.09.16: Poland still considering controversial abortion ban http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/272309,Poland-still-considering-controversial-abortion-ban
Radio Poland: Tag: Abortion http://www.thenews.pl/1/3/Tematy/97063
The Guardian, 23.09.16: Polish lawmakers push on with near-total ban on abortion https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/23/polish-lawmakers-anti-abortion-bill
The Tablet, 27.09.16: Poland moves one step closer to complete ban on abortion http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/6180/0/poland-moves-one-step-closer-to-complete-ban-on-abortion
BBC News, 24.09.16: Will Poland impose a total ban on abortion? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37449903
Radio Poland, 01.10.16: Protest against bid to ban abortion in Poland http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/273492,UPDATE-Protest-against-bid-to-ban-abortion-in-Poland
Politico, 01.10.16: Thousands in Poland protest abortion ban http://www.politico.eu/article/thousands-in-poland-protest-abortion-ban-blac-protest/
EUObserver, 03.10.16: Polish women rebel against abortion law https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/135324
Politico, 02.10.16: Women in black protest Poland’s new abortion proposal http://www.politico.eu/article/women-in-black-protest-polands-new-abortion-proposal/
The Economist, 04.10.16: Back in black All latest updates Polish women skip work to protest against an abortion ban http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21708179-catholic-backed-bill-puts-conservative-government-tough-spot-polish-women-skip-work
Radio Poland 03.10.16: Polish women take to the streets protesting proposed ban on abortion http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/273698,Polish-women-take-to-the-streets-protesting-proposed-ban-on-abortion
Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Black Monday for the PiS? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/167161/black-monday-for-the-pis
The Guardian, 05.10.16: Poland's abortion ban proposal near collapse after mass protests https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/05/polish-government-performs-u-turn-on-total-abortion-ban
Politico, 05.10.16: Poland’s ruling party moves to reject abortion ban bill http://www.politico.eu/article/polands-ruling-party-moves-to-reject-abortion-ban-bill-law-and-justice/
Radio Poland, 05.10.16: Polish parliamentary committee rejects bid to ban abortion http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/274111,Polish-parliamentary-committee-rejects-bid-to-ban-abortion
European Parliament: Press Release, 05.10.16: Women’s rights in Poland spark European debate http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160930IPR44805/
EUObserver, 06.10.16: Polish abortion row puts women's rights on EU agenda https://euobserver.com/justice/135387
Politico, 06.10.16: Polish parliament rejects abortion ban http://www.politico.eu/article/polish-parliament-rejects-abortion-ban/
BBC News, 06.10.16: Poland abortion: Parliament rejects near-total ban http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37573938
Radio Poland, 06.10.16: Polish MPs throw out bid to totally ban abortion http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/274174,Polish-MPs-throw-out-bid-to-totally-ban-abortion
Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Total abortion ban in Poland overturned http://www.eurotopics.net/en/167409/total-abortion-ban-in-poland-overturned

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