Poland REJECTS total ban on abortion following huge protests
- A Polish parliamentary commission session last night saw the bill rejected
- The legislation will now go before full assembly today for the final say
- Proposals sparked huge protests in Poland on Monday with strike action
- Poland already has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe
- Although unlikely to gain support, the bill could be given the green light
Polish lawmakers have rejected plans to impose a total ban on abortions.
A parliamentary commission session resulted in Poland's ruling right-wing party voting against the proposals put to them for the controversial ban last night.
The legislation went before the full assembly of the lower house of Parliament today and the decision was made to withdraw the legislation.
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Thousands of women across Poland went on strike in both their working and domestic lives to protest against the proposed new law that would have effectively banned abortions. Above: Women hold placards that read 'I want to have a choice' during a protest
Female workers across the country took part in the walk-out which aimed to bring the economy to a standstill and highlight their disgust at the proposed abortion bill. Pictured: People in an abortion rights campaigners' demonstration 'Black Protest' in Warsaw
The vote in a chaotic and emotional session on Wednesday evening came after the abortion ban proposal sparked massive protests on Monday, with large numbers of women across the nation donning black, boycotting work and school and demonstrating in the streets.
It came just before the European Parliament held an emotional debate on the situation of women in Poland.
Some members called for the need to save unborn lives.
Others expressed their solidarity with Polish women, some by wearing black.
'We learned today that for the time being the law seems to be off the table, but I would say that this is no reason for celebration,'
Dutch lawmaker Sophia in't Veld said, speaking before the final vote this morning.
She argued current Polish law 'still doesn't give women the choice.'
The strike, dubbed 'the black protest', took place in more than 60 different Polish cities. Pictured: People attend the anti-government, pro-abortion demonstration in Warsaw
Thousands of Poles already rallied in front of parliament in Warsaw Sunday against the bill
In the two days since Monday's protests, Poland's leaders had signaled they wouldn't support the divisive ban.
Members of the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party, joined by lawmakers from other parties, voted against the proposal.
Some said they don't approve of imposing criminal sentences on women who seek abortions.
The proposal under discussion called for prison terms of up to five years for both the women and their doctors.
Law and Justice leader in parliament, Ryszard Terlecki, said after the vote that the ruling party doesn't support the radical draft law.
He said the party is working on a separate draft that would largely leave the current law as it is but limit abortions in cases of Down Syndrome, which are now allowed.
Earlier Wednesday, Jaroslaw Gowin, the minister of science and higher education, said the protests by women have 'caused us to think and taught us humility' and that 'there will not be a total abortion ban.'
Mariusz Dzierzawski, from the committee Stop Abortion, which initiated the proposal, had hoped it might still return to the commission level.
But Dzierzawski didn't sound optimistic, saying the conservative lawmakers had betrayed their voters.
'Murdered children lost,' he said.
People take part in an abortion rights campaigners' demonstration in Warsaw Sunday
People attend the anti-government, pro-abortion demonstration in Warsaw, Poland Sunday
Ewa Kopacz, an opposition leader, declared a victory for 'freedom' and the many women who had taken to Poland's streets.
Poland already outlaws abortions, with exceptions made only for rape, incest, badly damaged fetuses or if the mother's life is at risk.
In practice, though, some doctors, citing moral objections, refuse to perform even legal abortions.
Polish women seeking abortions typically get them in Germany or other neighboring countries or order abortion pills online.
The anti-abortion initiative gathered 450,000 signatures in support of the total abortion ban and is supported by the Roman Catholic Church.
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