Poles dress in black and protest against abortion ban proposal.

In Poland, thousands of people have dressed in black to attend a rally outside parliament in Warsaw. The rally was protesting against a proposed abortion ban which would even prohibit abortions for women that have fallen pregnant as the result of being rape victims. Women whose lives would be put at risk by continuing with their pregnancy would also be denied the service. It would be a total ban in a country that already has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe.

 

Speakers at the so-called “Black Protest” said a total ban on abortion, including for victims of rape or women whose lives are endangered by a pregnancy, would be “barbaric.” Poland already has one of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws.

 

The black clothing was chosen to represent the mourning of reproductive rights in the country if the law goes ahead. Speakers said that they wanted the fewest abortions possible in Poland but not via this method. They called for better sex education in schools and improved access to contraceptives.

 

“We will not allow our hospitals to be turned into torture chambers and our doctors into prison guards,” Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bak, a left-wing Together party member, said to the crowd.

The proposal has come about because of strong connections in the legal system to Catholicism, and members are divided on whether to make these further restricting amendments to the current law on abortion. Currently women may only receive an abortion if the pregnancy puts their lives at risk, is the result of a rape or incest, or the foetus has considerable damage. 

 

The proposal is being discussed in parliament, but it is yet to be known when a decision could be made. It is expected to take weeks to reach a vote.

 

There are plans for another protest on Monday. In this one protesters were chanting "Stop the fanatics!" and "We want doctores, not missionaries!" whilst banners read phrases such as "My body, my choice."

Protesters remarked things such as: being furious about elements of the law which will be harmful to women. Especially elements such as denying the right to prenatal testing. 

 

“And it’s terrible to force a rape victim to have her child if she doesn’t want it — this could even lead to cases of women killing their unwanted children after birth. I don’t agree with this at all. It’s just not acceptable.”

 

The proposal for a total ban on abortions in the country has caused outrage and is increasing social tensions under the conservative law which took power last year. However, it was a citizens initiative that proposed the stricter law.