This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/10/poland-abortion-ban-petition-women-streets-law-justice

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Street protests over abortion law are latest skirmish in battle for Poland’s soul Street protests over abortion law are latest skirmish in battle for Poland’s soul
(about 17 hours later)
Amid a metallic forest of coat hangers held aloft by protesters outside parliament, Wanda Nowicka considers the prospect of her country emulating Malta and the Vatican. “Their abortion bans are ancient. But Poland has been moving forward for a generation. If we ban it, we will be turning our backs on progress and freedom.’’Amid a metallic forest of coat hangers held aloft by protesters outside parliament, Wanda Nowicka considers the prospect of her country emulating Malta and the Vatican. “Their abortion bans are ancient. But Poland has been moving forward for a generation. If we ban it, we will be turning our backs on progress and freedom.’’
Has the European Union’s fifth largest economy slammed into reverse gear? Since the nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) won an absolute majority in parliament last October, it has waged war on various institutions associated with a modern liberal democracy.Has the European Union’s fifth largest economy slammed into reverse gear? Since the nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) won an absolute majority in parliament last October, it has waged war on various institutions associated with a modern liberal democracy.
One by one, the judiciary, the internet, the media and the civil service have been “cleansed” and “sanitised” to bring them to heel. The government has stuffed the Constitutional Tribunal, Poland’s highest court, with its supporters to limit its autonomy. The justice ministry has taken control of the attorney general’s office and, with it, all other courts in the land.One by one, the judiciary, the internet, the media and the civil service have been “cleansed” and “sanitised” to bring them to heel. The government has stuffed the Constitutional Tribunal, Poland’s highest court, with its supporters to limit its autonomy. The justice ministry has taken control of the attorney general’s office and, with it, all other courts in the land.
Sacked state broadcasting bosses and dozens of civil servants seen as complicit with the previous liberal government have also been replaced by friendly faces. There are new snooping powers for the secret services. A historical witch hunt for “communist agents” has even extended to hero trade union leader Lech Wałęsa.Sacked state broadcasting bosses and dozens of civil servants seen as complicit with the previous liberal government have also been replaced by friendly faces. There are new snooping powers for the secret services. A historical witch hunt for “communist agents” has even extended to hero trade union leader Lech Wałęsa.
In Brussels, there is growing concern that one of the continent’s biggest countries is pursuing a populist and anti-democratic path at the core of post-communist “new Europe”.In Brussels, there is growing concern that one of the continent’s biggest countries is pursuing a populist and anti-democratic path at the core of post-communist “new Europe”.
No wonder the latest row over abortion has struck such a chord with the country’s beleaguered liberals. A citizens’ petition – endorsed by the Roman Catholic bishops’ conference, prime minister Beata Szydło and Jarosław Kaczyński, the former prime minister and Law and Justice leader – envisages scrapping Polish women’s already heavily circumscribed access to terminations. Some people see the development as a test the government may fail. Others fear the abortion move speaks to a sinister and reactionary agenda which is acquiring influence and power across civil society.No wonder the latest row over abortion has struck such a chord with the country’s beleaguered liberals. A citizens’ petition – endorsed by the Roman Catholic bishops’ conference, prime minister Beata Szydło and Jarosław Kaczyński, the former prime minister and Law and Justice leader – envisages scrapping Polish women’s already heavily circumscribed access to terminations. Some people see the development as a test the government may fail. Others fear the abortion move speaks to a sinister and reactionary agenda which is acquiring influence and power across civil society.
The conservative legal group Ordo Iuris is well on the way to collecting the 100,000 petition signatures it needs. Members of the group will be on church steps again on Sunday, just as they were last week when dozens of Polish Catholics walked out of mass in protest at a bishops’ message stating that abortion is contrary to the “thou shalt not kill” commandment.The conservative legal group Ordo Iuris is well on the way to collecting the 100,000 petition signatures it needs. Members of the group will be on church steps again on Sunday, just as they were last week when dozens of Polish Catholics walked out of mass in protest at a bishops’ message stating that abortion is contrary to the “thou shalt not kill” commandment.
Outside parliament on Saturday coat hangers, brandished by protesters as symbols of the crude tools used for backstreet abortions, were interspersed with red-painted placards proclaiming “My womb, not the fatherland’s” but also broader messages, such as “Make love not PiS”.Outside parliament on Saturday coat hangers, brandished by protesters as symbols of the crude tools used for backstreet abortions, were interspersed with red-painted placards proclaiming “My womb, not the fatherland’s” but also broader messages, such as “Make love not PiS”.
“We have to show up the hypocrisy of the government. We must never allow them to say they are pro-women,” said Nowicka, a former MP and one of the instigators of Ratujmy Kobiety (“Let’s save women”) – a counter-petition calling for expanded abortion rights.“We have to show up the hypocrisy of the government. We must never allow them to say they are pro-women,” said Nowicka, a former MP and one of the instigators of Ratujmy Kobiety (“Let’s save women”) – a counter-petition calling for expanded abortion rights.
Poland’s present law, passed in 1993, grants abortion up to the 25th week from conception, on condition that the woman’s life is in danger, the pregnancy is the result of criminally proven rape or incest, or the foetus is “seriously malformed”. It is so restrictive that Poland registers fewer than 1,000 legal abortions annually.Poland’s present law, passed in 1993, grants abortion up to the 25th week from conception, on condition that the woman’s life is in danger, the pregnancy is the result of criminally proven rape or incest, or the foetus is “seriously malformed”. It is so restrictive that Poland registers fewer than 1,000 legal abortions annually.
“Every year, between 80,000 and 100,000 Polish women endure backstreet abortions in Poland or travel abroad for the procedure – generally to Slovakia, Germany or Ukraine,’’ said Barbara Nowacka, leader of the United Left political alliance. “Germany, which has twice Poland’s population, registers about the same number of legal abortions per year. Those figures show you that a ban does not work,’’ she said.“Every year, between 80,000 and 100,000 Polish women endure backstreet abortions in Poland or travel abroad for the procedure – generally to Slovakia, Germany or Ukraine,’’ said Barbara Nowacka, leader of the United Left political alliance. “Germany, which has twice Poland’s population, registers about the same number of legal abortions per year. Those figures show you that a ban does not work,’’ she said.
The counter-petition calls for abortion on demand up to 12 weeks. “It is a tactical move,” said Nowacka. “We know we will not succeed but we hope to win the chance of a parliamentary confrontation between our bill and the one calling for a ban.”The counter-petition calls for abortion on demand up to 12 weeks. “It is a tactical move,” said Nowacka. “We know we will not succeed but we hope to win the chance of a parliamentary confrontation between our bill and the one calling for a ban.”
Activists have, during the past week, flooded social media with a #TrudnyOkresch (“Heavy Period”) campaign directed at Szydło and her government’s desire “to control our uteruses, ovaries, and pregnancies”. Comments include: “Dear Prime Minister Beata, I inform you that my menstrual cycle is going great. I got my period on time (my cycle lasts 31 days).” Another Facebook post reads: “Dear Mrs Prime Minister, my period is late. Maybe the time has come? I don’t have any income and I will be a single mother.” Activists have, during the past week, flooded social media with a #TrudnyOkres (“Heavy Period”) campaign directed at Szydło and her government’s desire “to control our uteruses, ovaries, and pregnancies”. Comments include: “Dear Prime Minister Beata, I inform you that my menstrual cycle is going great. I got my period on time (my cycle lasts 31 days).” Another Facebook post reads: “Dear Mrs Prime Minister, my period is late. Maybe the time has come? I don’t have any income and I will be a single mother.”
Single parents with one child do not qualify for the government’s flagship 500 zlotys-a-month (£88) child benefit – a key campaign promise that was paid out for the first time this month. Although Law and Justice tabled abortion-ban bills in opposition, the move was not in the party’s election manifesto. Government opponents point to a Kaczyński statement in 2007 when he said “a democratic, law-abiding state cannot force a raped woman to give birth to a child”. Single parents with one child do not qualify for the government’s flagship 500 złotys-a-month (£88) child benefit – a key campaign promise that was paid out for the first time this month. Although Law and Justice tabled abortion-ban bills in opposition, the move was not in the party’s election manifesto. Government opponents point to a Kaczyński statement in 2007 when he said “a democratic, law-abiding state cannot force a raped woman to give birth to a child”.
It is widely speculated that when Kaczyński’s twin brother, President Lech Kaczyński, was killed in the Smolensk air crash six years ago on Sunday the Law and Justice leader became considerably more devout. The conservative religious broadcasters Radio Maryja and Telewizja Trwam were staunch supporters of Law and Justice’s 2015 campaign.It is widely speculated that when Kaczyński’s twin brother, President Lech Kaczyński, was killed in the Smolensk air crash six years ago on Sunday the Law and Justice leader became considerably more devout. The conservative religious broadcasters Radio Maryja and Telewizja Trwam were staunch supporters of Law and Justice’s 2015 campaign.
The government’s moves against the rule of law – by paralysing the Constitutional Tribunal and bringing the attorney general’s office into the justice ministry – have attracted international opprobrium and drawn huge street protests. But political opposition has failed to unite in a meaningful way. In opinion polls, Law and Justice remains the most popular party.The government’s moves against the rule of law – by paralysing the Constitutional Tribunal and bringing the attorney general’s office into the justice ministry – have attracted international opprobrium and drawn huge street protests. But political opposition has failed to unite in a meaningful way. In opinion polls, Law and Justice remains the most popular party.
The mood over abortion is harder to predict. An opinion poll published last month in the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper found that 69% of Poles view it as immoral and unacceptable. At the same time, support for abortion when the woman’s life is in danger was almost universal (87%) and only 14% of respondents were in favour of a complete ban. In the 18-to-24 age group – the same that provided the most enthusiastic support for Law and Justice in the parliamentary elections – 65% of respondents were in favour of a more restrictive law, including a ban.The mood over abortion is harder to predict. An opinion poll published last month in the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper found that 69% of Poles view it as immoral and unacceptable. At the same time, support for abortion when the woman’s life is in danger was almost universal (87%) and only 14% of respondents were in favour of a complete ban. In the 18-to-24 age group – the same that provided the most enthusiastic support for Law and Justice in the parliamentary elections – 65% of respondents were in favour of a more restrictive law, including a ban.
Developments in Poland have also drawn the attention of United States senators, as well as experts and mid-ranking officials from European bodies. In what has developed into a kind of informal relay, it is a rare week that goes by without a visit to Warsaw from a delegation tasked with “keeping the conversation going” with Kaczyński.Developments in Poland have also drawn the attention of United States senators, as well as experts and mid-ranking officials from European bodies. In what has developed into a kind of informal relay, it is a rare week that goes by without a visit to Warsaw from a delegation tasked with “keeping the conversation going” with Kaczyński.
On Wednesday, Poland’s political direction will be discussed by the European parliament. No international convention prevents Poland from banning abortion. It is a domestic issue – and, according to Irena Kotowska, professor of demography at the Warsaw School of Economics – a smokescreen.On Wednesday, Poland’s political direction will be discussed by the European parliament. No international convention prevents Poland from banning abortion. It is a domestic issue – and, according to Irena Kotowska, professor of demography at the Warsaw School of Economics – a smokescreen.
“Law and Justice do not care deeply about banning abortion. They are simply adept at manipulation,’’ she said. “[They] know how to raise the temperature to boiling point as a diversionary tactic. We must be mindful of what else is going on while abortion is the hot issue.”“Law and Justice do not care deeply about banning abortion. They are simply adept at manipulation,’’ she said. “[They] know how to raise the temperature to boiling point as a diversionary tactic. We must be mindful of what else is going on while abortion is the hot issue.”