Poland: Thousands protest in opposition to abortion legislation for third straight evening

Protesters took to the streets of Warsaw, Gdansk and different Polish cities for the third straight evening on Friday, days after Poland’s near-total abortion ban got here into impact.
People shouted pro-choice slogans like “You’ve messed with women,” “Hey, hey, hey, abortion is ok,” and “Liberty, equality, abortion on demand.” Multiple anti-government chants have been additionally heard.
Some demonstrators additionally wore inexperienced bandanas, impressed by the pro-choice protests in Argentina. The Latin American nation just lately legalized abortion by means of to the 14th week of being pregnant.
In Poland’s capital, Warsaw, authorities blocked the protesters at a number of junctions, redirecting crowds on many events. Tear gasoline was additionally used in opposition to the demonstrators.
Strictest abortion legal guidelines In October, the nation’s Constitutional Court banned abortions in circumstances of fetal abnormalities, even extreme and deadly ones, sparking nationwide protests. The ruling turned legislation on Wednesday.
In its present type, the legislation solely permits abortion in circumstances of rape, incest and when the mom’s life is in peril.

The authorities has constantly supported the courtroom’s verdict, saying that it could halt what it known as “eugenic abortions,” referring to the termination of fetuses with Down’s Syndrome.
Though opponents have accused the conservative ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) of exerting affect over the courtroom, social gathering leaders say this isn’t the case. Poland, a staunchly Catholic nation, already had a few of the strictest abortion legal guidelines within the European Union earlier than approval of the newly tightened measures.

Fewer than 2,000 authorized abortions are carried out in Poland annually, a majority of that are carried out on the grounds of fetal malformations. Women’s teams estimate that as many as 200,000 extra Polish ladies search abortions annually, both overseas or illegally at house.