Power looks, women do their job

gazetafenestra.pl 1 month ago

Although politicians made many promises to abortion in Poland, they have not made any real changes to this day. That is why the substance has been taken into their own hands by women who do not accept idleness. In addition to providing support for access to legal and safe abortions for tens of thousands of people in need, they do much more. They have decided to take a step that Poland has not yet seen.

Abortion was 1 of the main themes during the 2020 and 2023 electoral campaigns. During this year's presidential campaign, she besides did not vanish from the afiche. Unfortunately, as before, much remains to be improved, while real action by politicians is inactive lacking. The “100 concretes for the first 100 days of government” proposed in 2023 by the Civic Coalition can be read: “The abortion until 12 weeks of pregnancy will be legal, safe and available. The decision must belong to a woman.’ However, despite 16 months since the oath of the coalition government led by Donald Tusk, the announced changes in abortion law did not occur. Abortion remains mostly illegal and unavailable in Poland. The activity of the rulers is limited to improving the application of the existing law. Many pro-abortion and feminist organizations agree to this.

Why? AboYes

Organizations, specified as Abortion Dream squad or ProAbo Lawyers, grouped in the nationwide initiative Abortion Without Borders, work to aid Poles execute a safe abortion. From providing access to abortion tablets to providing the financial and organisational support needed to execute a safe and legal treatment abroad. They not only aid in abortion, but besides educate and support reproductive health. They supply legal advice on sexual rights. They besides run emergency and assistance hotlines. According to a study published by ABG earlier this year, abortion organizations in Poland supported 47 1000 abortions (of which 44.5 1000 utilizing tablets). Data were compiled with the number of abortions legally conducted in Polish hospitals. According to data published by the NFZ in 2024, 896 were carried out.

With the support of “at a distance” the activist did not want to halt and on 8 March this year opened the first AboTak Abortion Clinic in Poland. As you can read on their website “AboYes is the first stationary place in Poland, where you can get support in conducting a pharmacological abortion. We want all individual to be able to walk out of here with their sister support, without trauma, shame and humiliation." The clinic not only provides aid with abortion, it is intended to be a place of education and meetings devoted to abortion. Additionally, it will supply free pregnancy tests and condoms.

Fear to leave the home

Opening AboAs expected, it did not only bring affirmative reactions. On the first day under the clinic, protests began, which participants spilled red paint before entering. But they did not halt there. Constantly under the clinic located at 9 Wiejska Street (against the Polish Parliament) anti-abortion environments organize ridiculously loud manifestations. Demonstrators usage the wuvuel, put trumpets on the ears of people passing the wedge, let the kid cry from the speakers. The sounds in the area scope up to 120 decibels. They stand with banners showing, among others, bloody fetuses, as well as utilizing references to German concentration camps, utilizing the slogan "Abortion Macht Frei". This is highly burdensome for residents who request action from the Warsaw authorities. The petition they made at the city office reads: “In the face of this situation, we feel powerless, and our homes have turned into places where we cannot remainder or operate properly.” Complaints are besides addressed to the police, but the services are limited to repeating that these assemblies are not illegal.

On 1 May, however, erstwhile the activists from the Placiary movement decided to compose slogans condemning the deficiency of action by the capital authorities, the police reacted immediately. They were requisitioned “equipment” and ticketed by calling them to the police station. It is worth noting that there were six posterists and about 30 officers sent to them. 1 of the people active in the postering was actor Julia Kamińska, who reported the event on her social media. In the video, she revealed that she told 1 of the police that she felt threatened by any actions taken by anti-abortion protesters. In response, she heard that in specified a situation she simply should not leave home. The threat Kamińska referred to was to flood the entrance with butter acid. It is simply a substance that, although not highly dangerous, has an irritant effect and can be harmful at higher concentrations.

Unfortunately, despite the change of government, the situation relating to the legality and availability of abortion has practically remained unchanged. The politicians of the ruling coalition mostly attribute the blame to the current president, who in their opinion would veto any mitigating law related to abortion, including its decriminalization, the bill. We'll never know. possibly the change of the head of state will bring a long-awaited improvement in women's rights and safety in Poland. The hostages of this prolonged stalemate are one more time Polish women.

Marianna CZMOCHOWSKA

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