The lower house concluded the debate on four draft bills on changes to abortion law. The vote on how to further proceed with them (dismiss them or sent them to parliamentary committees) will take place on Friday, between 2 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.
As the Deputy Speaker of the lower house, Dorota Niedziela (Civic Coalition, or KO), pointed out, a motion has also been submitted to dismiss all four drafts.
All the bills have been submitted by parties forming the current coalition, including two submitted by The Left.
The Left’s first draft, if passed, would result in complete decriminalization of abortion conducted with the woman’s consent up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and depenalization of termination of pregnancy in case of serious, irreversible damage or incurable disease of the fetus.
The second draft, of a bill on “safe termination of pregnancy,” would, if passed, guarantee access to abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy (longer in some cases) as part of access to public healthcare. It would also regulate some other matters, including the so-called conscience clause.
Two other drafts have been submitted earlier by other parties of the coalition.
All the bills have been submitted by parties forming the current coalition, including two submitted by The Left.
The Left’s first draft, if passed, would result in complete decriminalization of abortion conducted with the woman’s consent up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and depenalization of termination of pregnancy in case of serious, irreversible damage or incurable disease of the fetus.
The second draft, of a bill on “safe termination of pregnancy,” would, if passed, guarantee access to abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy (longer in some cases) as part of access to public healthcare. It would also regulate some other matters, including the so-called conscience clause.
Two other drafts have been submitted earlier by other parties of the coalition.
A group of KO (the largest bloc in the coalition) MPs submitted their proposed bill in January, which would give women access to abortion under universal healthcare within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and later in specified cases.
Toward the end of February, the Third Way (a bloc made up of the centrist Polish People’s Party, or PSL, and Poland 2050) which would revert the state of the law to that before the 2020 ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal (TK), making abortion again permitted in cases not only when the pregnancy poses a danger to the woman’s health or life, or there are suspicions the pregnancy came about as a result of a felony, such as rape or incest, but also when there is a large risk of serious and irreversible fetal malformation or congenital disease threatening its viability. Such a law would mark a return to the previous abortion law that was in place since 1993.
Abortion row
Toward the end of February, the Third Way (a bloc made up of the centrist Polish People’s Party, or PSL, and Poland 2050) which would revert the state of the law to that before the 2020 ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal (TK), making abortion again permitted in cases not only when the pregnancy poses a danger to the woman’s health or life, or there are suspicions the pregnancy came about as a result of a felony, such as rape or incest, but also when there is a large risk of serious and irreversible fetal malformation or congenital disease threatening its viability. Such a law would mark a return to the previous abortion law that was in place since 1993.
Abortion row
Abortion is currently permitted in Poland only if the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest or if it threatens the health or life of the mother.
According to its critics, the 2020 ruling has had a further impact on the lives of Polish women because medical staff, fearing legal consequences for terminating pregnancies even though they are permissible under the law, have refused to carry out the procedure. As a result, several women have died in Polish hospitals due to infections or complications during their pregnancies.
The ruling sparked a wave of protests, with subsequent cases in which women died as a result of the pregnancy not being terminated further exacerbating the discontent.
In turn, the current debate on abortion liberalization in the Polish parliament prompted protests by pro-life organizations and a nationwide discussion among experts and in social media.
According to its critics, the 2020 ruling has had a further impact on the lives of Polish women because medical staff, fearing legal consequences for terminating pregnancies even though they are permissible under the law, have refused to carry out the procedure. As a result, several women have died in Polish hospitals due to infections or complications during their pregnancies.
The ruling sparked a wave of protests, with subsequent cases in which women died as a result of the pregnancy not being terminated further exacerbating the discontent.
In turn, the current debate on abortion liberalization in the Polish parliament prompted protests by pro-life organizations and a nationwide discussion among experts and in social media.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. MEPs called on Malta and Poland, the two countries with the toughest limitations on abortion, to lift restrictions on the issue.
The resolution passed on Thursday with 346 votes in favor, 163 against, and 39 abstentions.
The resolution passed on Thursday with 346 votes in favor, 163 against, and 39 abstentions.
Source: PAP, TVP World
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