Poles join ‘umbrella protest’ against abortion curbs

Street protests are expected to continue on Monday, when some women also planning a strike, boycotting jobs and classes.

Poland
The current law, passed in 1993, bans most abortions, except in cases of rape [AFP]

Polish women have taken to the streets across the country, launching another round of protests against efforts by the nation’s conservative leaders to tighten already restrictive abortion law.

A large group gathered on Sunday outside the parliament building in Warsaw, chanting: “We have had enough!”

The latest round of demonstrations, held under the slogan “We are not putting our umbrellas away”, was organised in response to a new proposal that would fall short of a total ban, but outlaw abortions in cases where foetuses are unviable or badly damaged.

READ MORE: Defying Poland’s restrictive abortion law

Polish media reported that similar protests were happening in cities and towns across the country.

The street protests are expected to continue on Monday, when some women are also planning a strike, and boycotting jobs and classes.

Similar protests took place earlier this month against a proposal for a total ban on abortion.

But politicians rejected that proposal after massive crowds of women dressed in black staged street protests under their umbrellas in the rain.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of the ruling Law and Justice party, said recently he wants the law to ensure that women carry their foetuses to term even in cases of Down Syndrome, or when there is no chance of survival. The move would allow for baptisms and burials, Kaczynski said.

Polish parliament rejects plans for total abortion ban

His socially conservative party won parliamentary and presidential elections last year with the support of Poland’s powerful Roman Catholic church, Catholic media outlets and religious voters.

Many observers see the attempts to further restrict abortion as a way for the party to repay its debt to its religious base.

However, the proposals have proven too restrictive for many Poles, including some who voted for the party.

Abortion was legal and easily available under communism in Poland, but after its fall the country re-embraced many of its Catholic traditions.

The current law, passed in 1993, bans most abortions, with exceptions made only in cases of rape, if the mother’s life or health is at risk, or if the foetus is irreparably damaged.

Official statistics show there were 1,040 legal abortions in Poland last year, although many more abortions are known to take place, with women or travelling to neighbouring countries for the procedure or ordering abortion-inducing pills online.

Source: News Agencies