Content Warning – discussion of abortion.
It’s 2020 and still thousands of women worldwide are controlled by strict abortion laws. The recent events that have unfolded in Poland serve as a harsh reminder that we are still a long way from where we need to be. Women continue to be denied full autonomy over their own body.
Abortion persists as a point of controversy across the globe. Many people believe that it’s a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion, yet other people have religious, political and ethical morals that reject the idea of abortion. Whilst everyone is entitled to their own personal view, the woman should ultimately have the decision on what happens to their body.
“there are 40-50 million abortions worldwide each year, although a portion of these are done illegally”
The World Population Review found, at the beginning of 2020, that 26 countries still criminalise abortions, regardless of the causes of pregnancy. Even in cases of rape or incest, abortions in those countries are illegal. A total of 37 countries find abortion to be unlawful unless it saves the life of the mother.
It is estimated that there are 40-50 million abortions worldwide each year, although a portion of these are done illegally due to the restriction’s women face due to strict abortion laws.
The reality is, even if you are pro-life or anti-abortion, the laws that criminalise and ban abortion do not stop them from happening. Instead, these laws lead women to take drastic measures which result in more deaths and more injuries. They reduce the level of freedom that women have, increase female suicide and risk death. If the woman sees the pregnancy through, it risks bringing children into an environment where they cannot be cared for properly, be that financially or emotionally.
Events in Poland
Poland has always had some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, but a new near-total ban has sparked outrage as a violation of human rights. The Human Rights Commissioner for the Council of Europe deemed it a “sad day for women’s rights”, as the country narrows its reproductive rights.
On Thursday 22nd October, Poland’s high court banned abortions due to foetal defects saying that “abortions in cases where ‘prenatal tests or other medical indications indicate a high probability of severe and irreversible foetal impairment or an incurable life-threatening disease’ violate the right to life.”
This means that in Poland, a legal abortion is only possible in the case of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger. As a result of the strict pre-existing laws, 98% of terminations were carried out due to foetal defects.
The people of Poland have taken to the streets to demonstrate against the new law, arguing that it takes away the rights of thousands of women. 15 people were arrested after angry protestors clashed with riot police outside the house of Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Poland’s right-wing ruling party.
It is estimated that around 200,000 Polish women travel to another country to have an abortion, with fewer than 2000 legal abortions taking place in Poland itself.
17-year-old Kinga Neumann, who is a Polish girl currently living in Ireland, feels “furious and disgusted with this decision”, explaining that “the emotions are still very fresh regardless of the fact that a decision happened a few days ago.”
Neumann explained how the decision was expected, as the country is very notoriously conservative: “There was really only one possible outcome of the ruling”.
Growing up in Ireland, where the abortion laws are also very strict, has meant that Neumann has witnessed the devastation that such laws have on women in different parts of the world. Kinga Neumann’s Irish hometown had a big protest against the new abortion laws, which came as quite a big shock. Neumann explains how she “would have honestly never expected any sort of strike coming from there.” She adds that “Poland is very divided when it comes to politics, so a cause uniting people like this was not something anyone expected.”
The protests give Neumann, and many other women, hope that the law won’t be allowed to go ahead, as she expresses the importance of people around the world knowing what’s going on and drawing a wide media coverage.
Neumann believes that PIS, a national-conservative and right-wing populist political party in Poland, has “woken up a sleeping dragon in the form of women,” adding that “I also think this is the beginning of the end for PIS, there is so much anger in the country and this abortion ruling was the cherry on top.”
“The best thing is spreading the word and letting people know what’s happening.”
Regarding what she thinks people can do to support women in Poland, Neumann says that “the best thing is spreading the word and letting people know what’s happening.” She also explains the importance of seeing “people donating to the likes of abortion support networks as these groups help women in Poland, and worldwide, access abortion through either pills or funding travel.” These funds don’t only help women in Poland, but also women all around the world living with restrictive abortion laws, so any money going towards them won’t go to waste.
Kinga Neumann is just one of many young girls angry at the decision to put a near-total ban on abortion in Poland. It is important that we listen to the younger generations and make sure that we keep fighting for their rights.
“We cannot stop fighting until every woman worldwide can make their own choices about their own bodies.”
It is a sad time for many as we are reminded of how far we have to go before women are given the right to freedom that they deserve. We know there’s something wrong when it’s 2020 and women still have to protest for their rights.
Global movement charity, Amnesty International, is calling for people to support the women and girls of Poland. Let’s get behind them and support our sisters. We cannot stop fighting until every woman worldwide can make their own choices about their own bodies.
Holly Hostettler-Davies
Photo by Lindsey LaMont on Unsplash. Image license can be found here.No changes were made to this image.