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Will Poland impose a total ban on abortion? Poland's tussle over abortion ban
(about 20 hours later)
The touchstone issue of abortion has reared its head once again at the centre of Polish politics. The touchstone issue of abortion has again fought its way to the centre of Polish politics.
There were opposing demonstrations outside Poland's parliament on Friday as it debated a motion to ban abortion outright. If passed, Poland would join just two other European states that ban the procedure - Malta and the Vatican City. In this staunchly Catholic nation, a citizens' initiative calling for an almost complete ban drew 450,000 signatures and looked close to being passed, before some 100,000 Poles, most of them women, took to the streets in protest.
In this staunchly Catholic nation, the issue inflames huge passions on both sides. The socially-conservative government distanced itself from the ban and MPs then voted overwhelmingly against it.
What is the current situation? What's the law in Poland now?
Abortion is already mostly banned. The only exceptions are a severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, a serious threat to the mother's health, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Abortion is already mostly banned. The only exceptions are a severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, a serious threat to the mother's health, or when pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
As a result, even by conservative estimates there are far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared to about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations. Even by conservative estimates there are far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared to about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations.
Access to contraception has also been tightened. The only over-the-counter contraception now available is the condom.Access to contraception has also been tightened. The only over-the-counter contraception now available is the condom.
Who are the anti-abortion activists and what do they want? What would have changed under the proposed ban?
The main group is called Stop Abortion. They demand what is widely regarded in Poland as a total ban, even in cases of rape and incest. The only exception would be where the mother's life was in danger. Their petition calling for a ban attracted 450,000 signatures, triggering Friday's debate in parliament, where their motion was sent to a committee for further consideration. Anti-abortion activists, led mainly by one group called Stop Abortion, demanded what is widely regarded in Poland as a total ban, even in cases of rape and incest. The only exception would have been where the mother's life was in danger.
Stop Abortion argues that human life starts at conception and should be protected from that moment. The government does not officially back its view, but figures such as Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and the deputy justice minister Patryk Jaki have indicated it has their personal support. Under the proposals, abortion was to be punishable with a five-year prison term. Doctors in Poland already risk punishment if they are found to have carried out an illegal termination, but under the bill all doctors performing abortions would have been criminalised.
Under the proposed new legislation, abortion would be punishable with an five-year prison term. Doctors already risk punishment if they are found to have carried out an illegal termination, but under the new legislation all doctors performing abortions would be criminalised. The changes would have aligned Poland with two other European states, Malta and Vatican City.
Conservative Catholic weekly Gosc Niedzielny quoted Joanna Banasiuk, a university lawyer and activist, telling parliament that abortion is the "butchering of innocent children, hell for women and moral bankruptcy for men". Stop Abortion argues that human life starts at conception and should be protected from that moment.
What is the Catholic Church's role in all this? Who supported the changes?
The influence of the church is indirect but significant. No parliamentary party has the word "Catholic" or "Christian" in its name, but 87% of the nation declare to be Roman Catholic. If you want to find the roots of the Polish conscience you need to look in the Vatican, say some. And although the ruling Law and Justice part (PIS) does not follow Church teachings blindly, a significant section of its supporters are religious. The government never officially backed the citizens' initiative but initially figures such as Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and the deputy justice minister Patryk Jaki indicated their personal support.
Watch: Moves to ban abortion in Poland are dividing opinion
The Catholic Church initially backed the bill but changed its stance ahead of the 6 October vote in parliament, saying it could not support women being jailed for having an abortion.
Conservative Catholic weekly Gosc Niedzielny quoted Joanna Banasiuk, a university lawyer and activist, telling parliament that abortion was the "butchering of innocent children, hell for women and moral bankruptcy for men".
In one south-eastern region, Podkarpackie, where the ruling PiS (Law and Justice) and the Catholic Church enjoy unusually high support, hospitals and doctors signed a "declaration of conscience" and refused to carry out any abortions, in effect removing legal abortion locally as an option.
When parliament (the Sejm) began to debate the motion there were demonstrations for and against the proposals outside the building in Warsaw. The bill was sent to a committee for further consideration.
What role does the Catholic Church play?
The influence of the church is indirect but significant. No parliamentary party has the word "Catholic" or "Christian" in its name, but 87% of the nation declare to be Roman Catholic.
If you want to find the roots of the Polish conscience you need to look in the Vatican, say some. And although the PiS does not follow Church teachings blindly, a significant section of its supporters are religious.
Others argue that the Church's influence on the nation is waning. Attendance at Sunday mass has dropped below 40%. More Poles are willing, these days, to challenge the moral leadership of the Church.Others argue that the Church's influence on the nation is waning. Attendance at Sunday mass has dropped below 40%. More Poles are willing, these days, to challenge the moral leadership of the Church.
Who are the pro-choice activists and what do they want? Opinion polls suggest that between two-thirds and three-quarters of Poles wanted no change to the existing abortion laws.
The main group, Save the Women, argue that the current law is already extremely restrictive. They are supported by Poland's main opposition party, Nowoczesna (Modern), which argues that current regulations are "medieval", drive abortion underground and deny pregnant women choice - except for more affluent women, who are able to afford to go abroad for terminations. Did women stop the abortion ban?
Coat-hangers representing back-street abortions were a regular feature of protests earlier in the year; recent web-based protests have seen women posting pictures of themselves wearing black mourning clothes, symbolising the death of choice and their own futures. When an estimated 100,000 people, most of them women, turned out in nationwide rallies in Poland on 3 October, the government took notice.
Save the Women's Barbara Nowacka said that to reduce the number of illegal abortions the state needs to introduce "sex education, state-funded contraception... and [better] access to doctors as well as the right to abortion". They bore placards that read "No women, no kraj", a reference to a Bob Marley song but with a Polish word that changed the meaning to "No women, no country".
The prime minister quickly distanced herself from the bill and then Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin gave a radio interview, saying the protests had given "food for thought and certainly taught us humility".
Smaller rallies took place in several other European cities.
Who backed the protests?
The main group, Save the Women, argues that the current law is already extremely restrictive. It is supported by Poland's main opposition party, Nowoczesna (Modern), which complains current regulations are "medieval", drive abortion underground and deny pregnant women choice - except for more affluent women, who are able to afford to go abroad for terminations.
Coat-hangers representing back-street abortions have been a regular feature of protests; recent web-based protests have seen women posting pictures of themselves wearing black mourning clothes, symbolising the death of choice and their own futures.
Save the Women's Barbara Nowacka said that to reduce the number of illegal abortions the state had to introduce "sex education, state-funded contraception... and [better] access to doctors as well as the right to abortion".
The pro-choice movement also garnered enough signatures (about 250,000) to see their proposals debated by parliament - but it immediately struck the motion out.The pro-choice movement also garnered enough signatures (about 250,000) to see their proposals debated by parliament - but it immediately struck the motion out.
Left-wing TOK-FM radio claims the abortion issue is cynically used for political profit.
What about public opinion?
Most polls suggest that between two-thirds and three-quarters of people would prefer to leave the things as they are.
Watch: Moves to ban abortion in Poland are dividing opinion
So what happens next?So what happens next?
Although there are vocal supporters of the total abortion ban in the PIS party, the government itself is facing a dilemma over the bill. It doesn't want to antagonise its Catholic supporters by opposing Stop Abortion's motion. But it could trigger a public outcry if it goes ahead with it. The campaign for a near-total ban appears to have run out of steam.
One prediction is that the government is likely to park the issue for as long as possible with the parliamentary committee which is currently considering it. What is now most likely is that a 23-year-old compromise will remain in place that only allows abortion in cases of rape or incest, or when the health of the mother or foetus is seriously endangered.
But some are taking matters into their own hands - with or without legislative backing. In the south-eastern region of Podkarpackie - where PIS and the Church enjoy unusually high support - hospitals and doctors have signed a "declaration of conscience" and are refusing to carry out any abortions, in effect removing legal abortion as an option in the region.
What's the picture on abortion elsewhere in Europe?What's the picture on abortion elsewhere in Europe?
European countries are among the world's most pro-choice when it comes to abortion.European countries are among the world's most pro-choice when it comes to abortion.
There are exceptions: Malta and Vatican City are among six countries worldwide where abortion is banned outright under law. There are severe restrictions in Ireland, Northern Ireland (where the law differs from the rest of the UK), San Marino, Liechtenstein and Andorra.There are exceptions: Malta and Vatican City are among six countries worldwide where abortion is banned outright under law. There are severe restrictions in Ireland, Northern Ireland (where the law differs from the rest of the UK), San Marino, Liechtenstein and Andorra.
Abortion study: 25% of pregnancies terminated, estimates suggestAbortion study: 25% of pregnancies terminated, estimates suggest
Correction 4 October 2016: This page has been amended to clarify that Stop Abortion's demands for a "total ban" include an exception when the mother's life is in danger.