Women in Poland are on strike to protest country’s plans to ban abortions:
- Women in Poland are to stage an all-out strike to protest the country’s plan to effectively ban abortions.Female workers across the predominantly Catholic country will take part in action on Monday, in an effort to disrupt draw attention to attempts to restrict Poland’s severely limited abortion laws even further. The strike will bring Polish society and the economy to a standstill those taking part are hoping. Currently, abortion is permitted only in case of rape or if the women or its foetus life is danger. However, legislators have proposed that restricting the laws further is still to eliminate these exceptions. Women’s that break the law can punish five year prison. A government committee is considering the changes.
- Women’s have been urged to join the strike instead of going to their work, The Krakow Post reports. Known locally as the “black protest”, official strikes will be taking place in 60 different Polish cities. In an act of solidarity, a number of business and corporations are requested to shut their doors for the strike. Protestors are also encouraged to wear black clothes and post the photos on social media which showing participating in activities.
- A leaflet circulated online status:”Black protest in defense of the right to life and health of women in Poland. We demand access to reliable sex, education, contraception and effective in vitro procedures. We oppose the further tightening [of] abortion laws. “What can you do? Rather than going to work, go to a demonstration and if you are doing work at home, where the black clothes take the picture, post it on social media with hashtag #Black protest #Czanry Protest to show soliditary. Talk to your mother, sister, cousin, friend, and colleague. Tell them about the strike and the situation in Poland.” The strike has received support from high profile Polish figure including super model Anja Rubik, who shared her support on social media.
- The pressure group stops abortion has driven calls for a total ban on abortions in Poland. It is supported by the Catholic Church and Prime Minister Beata Szydlo as well as deputy justice minister Patryk Jaki have indicated support for the group. A total of 87 percent of polish people identifies a Catholic and the church continues to hold considerable influence over society. According to official figures, around 1000 legal abortions are performed in the Poland every year. However, it is estimated that a considerably higher number also takes place illegally, with up to 150000 women each year performing abortions on themselves often with pills bought online. In June of last year, activists used drones to fly abortions pills into Poland in a show of solidarity with local women.
- Globally, 66 countries permit abortion only if the life of women is in danger. A further 59 permit it solely to prevent serious harm to a woman’s health. In the UK, it is a criminal offense to have an abortion in Northern Ireland, where women face up to life in prison after having an abortion, including in instances of rape, incest or if the fetus is so severely disabled that it will not survive birth. In April of this year, “a 21 year-old was trialled in a Belfast court and found guilty of having an abortion at the age of 19”. When she performed an abortion at home and her flatmates reported her to the police after finding foetal remains in their household bin and she was subsequently arrested. Westminister MPs have been urged to overturn the ban by passing legislation in the House of Commons.