Polish parliament votes to reform harsh abortion law

On June 30, the Polish senate voted to liberalize the country's abortion law, ratifying a provision adopted by the lower House of Parliament (Sejm) on June 10. Based on a model measure prepared by women deputies, the new proposal allows women facing economic or personal hardship to obtain legal abortions. In contrast, the current law only allows abortions when a woman's life is endangered or when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. Last year, the Polish anti-choice campaign successfully pressured members of Parliament to restrict abortion by appealing to Catholic doctrine and associating more liberal abortion laws with the Communist regime, which had left access to abortion essentially unfettered. Since enactment of the harsh law last year, Polish women have been forced to travel abroad for abortions, to resort to often unsafe procedures by providers operating illegally within the country, or to attempt self-abortion. Although President Walesa has indicated that he will veto the measure, his executive action could be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Parliament. Poland is one of the many countries in Eastern and Central Europe that have experienced a surge in anti-choice organizing since the collapse of Communist governments. Groups seeking to impose additional restrictions on abortion in the region are often supported by US-based organizations. Human Life International, for example, recently sponsored a conference for anti-abortion activists in Moscow, Russia. For more information, contact Urszula Nowakowska, visiting attorney in CRLP's International Program.