Polish Parliament to vote on decriminalizing abortion assistance
On Friday evening, November 8th, the Polish Parliament is set to vote on a bill aimed at decriminalizing abortion.
Minister for Equality Katarzyna Kotula before her speech in the Polish Parliament, archival photo from April 11, 2024.PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The left-wing opposition proposes the removal of the three-year prison sentence for performing an abortion with the woman’s consent. Lawmakers will decide whether to reject the bill outright in the first reading.
This marks the second attempt by the Sejm to pass legislation partially decriminalizing abortion assistance. In July, the Parliament rejected a similar proposal, with votes against it from the conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), the far-right Confederation, and most of the Polish People’s Party (PSL).
The proposed changes to the Penal Code include the repeal of Article 152, paragraph 1, which currently imposes up to three years in prison for performing an abortion without complying with the 1993 Family Planning, Protection of the Human Fetus, and Conditions for Legal Abortion Act.
The new bill also proposes that abortion with the woman’s consent, in violation of the Family Planning Act, would carry a penalty of up to five years in prison or restriction of liberty only if the pregnancy exceeds 12 weeks.
The main goal, according to Minister for Equality Katarzyna Kotula, quoted by the Polish state news agency PAP, is to replace the anti-women and anti-family policies of PiS with a policy based on support and to restore a sense of safety.
The first step in this process is the decriminalization of abortion assistance, along with the return of the third legal condition for abortion.
Minister for Equality Katarzyna Kotula prior to her address in the Polish Parliament, archival image from April 11, 2024 (PAP/Radek Pietruszka)
Source: IAR/PAP/TVN24/X/@KotulaKat
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