Polish women's fight for abortion rights: a betrayal by the new government?
Ashifa Kassam, a British journalist, reminisced about the events from three years ago when hundreds of thousands of Poles, both women and men, took to the streets amid the COVID-19 pandemic to articulate their dissent towards the propositions of tightening abortion laws.
6 Feb 2024 | updated: 7 March 2024 09:07
Donning placards with slogans such as "Revolution has a womb" and "My body, my choice", they braved the coronavirus restrictions and biting cold to participate in the largest protests the country had seen since the fall of communism, reads "The Guardian".
British press quotes Polish activists
"The Guardian" quoted Kamila Ferenc, from the Federation for Women and Family Planning, who attributes the victory of the current government in the autumn parliamentary elections significantly to women.
The British newspaper also underscored the expectations of the voters from the Civic Platform, Third Way, and Left concerning the new government. "The lack of liberalisation of abortion laws will establish that the new government has deceived hundreds of thousands who took to the streets," highlighted the author in relation to the comment made by Kamila Ferenc.
"The Guardian" also reported a statement made by Marta Lempart from the Women's Strike who voiced her disappointment with the current government's actions.
"We won these elections - it was predominantly women and the younger generation that led us to victory", the co-organiser of the Women's Strikes was cited saying.
The British newspaper brought back to memory that during the election campaign, the Civic Coalition and the Left had promised to push for a law that would legalise abortion up to the 12th week. On the other hand, parties like the Third Way - including the Polish People's Party and Poland 2050 - proposed organising a referendum to decide on abortion rights.
In addition, "The Guardian" covered an appeal by Kamila Ferenc directed at Donald Tusk. The activist persuaded that the politician needed to "try harder" and heighten his involvement in the negotiations with Third Way, which does not currently back the liberalisation of abortion law. "Negotiations are the crux of politics. Particularly when discussing women's rights and the right to abortion, as this represents a severe predicament" - stressed the representative of the Federation for Women and Family Planning.
