POLAND: Parliamentary committee rejects controversial abortion bill

Polish parliament’s justice and human rights committee Wednesday rejected the citizen-initiated draft bill envisaging a total abortion, which brought about mass protests by women across the country.

On Monday tens of thousands of Polish women took part in nationwide protests against the possible tightening of the abortion law. Dressed in black as a symbol of mourning for their reproductive rights they marched through the streets of Polish cities having gone on strike from work and school.

Jaroslaw Gowin, the minister of science and higher education, said that the protests have been a lesson in "humility" for the country’s leadership and that "there will not be a total abortion ban."

The bill will now be sent back to the lower house for MPs to debate at a full session of the Polish parliament.

Meanwhile, Women’s rights in Poland sparked a heated debate in the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Under the present law, abortion is allowed in Poland only if the pregnancy is a result of incest or rape, if it puts the health of the mother at risk or if the fetus is severely damaged.

The proposed new abortion law is aimed at criminalizing abortion in any circumstance including rape or serious health issues, except where necessary to save a woman’s life. It also seeks jail sentences of up to five years, for both pregnant women and a doctor, for causing “the death of a conceived child”.

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CREDITS: Cover photo is taken from original article