Poland’s abortion laws and UK activism
Written by Julia Pata, Volunteer and Admin Assistant at ASN.
This past week in Poland has seen an increase in reported cases of hospitalised pregnant patients who have been denied an abortion despite life-threatening symptoms. Just last week Federa reported helping four women in this situation. This follows the tragic – and preventable – death of Dorota L. in Nowy Targ at the end of May, and the death of Iza from Pszczyna who passed away in 2021 in similar circumstances. She died due to septic shock in the 22nd week of pregnancy, as the doctors waited too long to terminate despite a low chance of survival for both the foetus and the patient.
The restrictive abortion laws in Poland and a misunderstanding of their application in practice has been the cause behind many avoidable deaths. These have been loudly protested by various activists and organisations, including ASN. Yesterday (14 June), protests were held in more than 50 Polish cities and in London, in front of the Polish embassy.
I have been a human rights activist since 2018, when I started working for Amnesty International in Russia as a teen, protesting human rights abuses. In 2021, when there was a stricter abortion law introduced in Poland, I became an active pro-choice activist, as many did that year. Now settled in the UK, I am supporting ASN’s work of helping those who cannot access an abortion in their country of residence. I feel extremely proud to work here but simultaneously I wish these organisations never had to exist and everyone would have equal access to abortion, anywhere and anytime.
Most of the news we report comes directly from organisations in Poland, such as Abortion Dream Team and Kobiety w Sieci who are fellow members of Abortion Without Borders. This collective works together to help people in Poland get abortions, either by medical abortion pills or by supporting them to travel to another country. Since it began, the network has helped more than 100,000 people in this way.
For up-to-date news from Poland, you can follow Abortion Dream Team and Federa PL. Crucially, if you are in Poland and end up needing to go to hospital while pregnant, contact them before you go in so they can help you.
Here in the UK, I will be joining the march on Saturday from the Royal Courts of Justice, organised in response to the criminal prosecution of a woman who took abortion pills after the legal limit. Activists are fighting for abortion access across Europe, and our struggles are connected. If you too believe that abortion should be decriminalised, please join us on Saturday to show support to those who have been affected by restrictive abortion laws.
Dorota, Iza, Agnieszka, Marta, Justyna and Ania and anyone else who died due to Poland’s restrictive laws – we will not forget you. We stand united and say ‘Ani Jednej Więcej’ (Not One More).
- Abortion Without Borders: 22 29 22 597
- Federa: 501 694 202