Poles protest against proposed abortion ban

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 03.04.16
Publication Date 03/04/2016
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Thousands of people marched on 3 April 2016 in Poland's capital Warsaw against proposals to tighten the country's already restrictive abortion laws. Poland's Bishops and Prime Minister Beata Szydło had lent their support to a petition for a referendum on a general ban on the termination of pregnancies.

Pro-choice activists rallied outside the parliament to urge the conservative government to drop plans for a total ban on pregnancy terminations. Legislation in place, dating back to 1993, state that abortions are illegal except when pregnancy results from rape or incest, poses a health risk to the mother, or if the foetus is damaged.

Following its election in October 2015, Poland's Law and Justice Party (PiS) decided to bring abortion regulations in line with the values of the influential Catholic Church. The new proposal would only allow abortion if the mother's life was in danger. It would also lift maximum jail terms for those carrying out illegal terminations from two to five years.

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Related Links
Radio Poland, 03.04.16: Poles protest against possible ban on abortion http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/247190,Poles-protest-against-possible-ban-on-abortion
The Independent, 04.04.16: Poland considers complete ban on abortion http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/poland-ban-abortion-women-speak-out-against-their-governments-plans-for-a-total-ban-on-abortion-a6968601.html
The Wall Street Journal, 03.04.16: Protesters Rally Against Poland’s Proposed Ban on Abortions http://www.wsj.com/articles/protesters-rally-against-polands-proposed-ban-on-abortions-1459711371
TIME, 04.04.16: Protesters Want Poland to Abandon a Plan to Outlaw Abortion Completely http://time.com/4280264/protesters-poland-outlaw-abortion/
ESO: Background information: Poland debates abortion http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-debates-abortion/
Politico, 05.04.16: Poland’s PiS in bed with Catholic Church, backs abortion ban http://www.politico.eu/article/polands-church-state-alliance-to-ban-abortion/
Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: Poland at odds over abortion http://www.eurotopics.net/en/156739/poland-at-odds-over-abortion
Catholic Herald, 04.04.16: Polish bishops press for full abortion ban http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/04/04/polish-bishops-press-for-full-abortion-ban/
Radio Poland, 04.04.16: Polish deputy PM admits ban on abortion could backfire http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/247242,Polish-deputy-PM-admits-ban-on-abortion-could-backfire
The Conversation, 06.04.16: Polish abortion ban battle taps into wider fears for human rights http://theconversation.com/polish-abortion-ban-battle-taps-into-wider-fears-for-human-rights-57365
ESO: Background information: Poland: A change so good, it makes you want to cry http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-a-change-so-good-it-makes-you-want-to-cry/
ESO: Background information: Polish parliamentary election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/polish-parliamentary-election-2015/

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