Poland parliament holding long-awaited debate on liberalizing strict abortion law - AP Explains

(11 Apr 2024)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Warsaw, Poland - 11 April 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Vanessa Gera, Associated Press Correspondent:
"We're in the halls of the Polish parliament, where a long awaited debate on abortion is about to begin. Lawmakers are going to debate proposals for liberalising the abortion law. Currently, Poland has one of the most restrictive laws in all of Europe. The reality is a bit different however. Many women, in fact, have abortions. They either travel abroad or in most cases they order pills online, which are sent often from the Netherlands or some other country. Nothing is really expected to change any time soon. There are a number of politicians with a lot of power who are conservative, and they would not vote to change the law. One of them is the president who has the power of veto. The other is the Speaker of Parliament, who has already banned the abortion advocates from even entering the gallery in the Parliament to attend the debate today."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Warsaw, Poland - 11 April 2024
2. Polish parliament exterior, Polish and European flags
3. Wide of pro-choice activists news conference
4. Campaigner holding a symbolic receipts for abortion, which was helped by pro-choice activists abroad
5. Anti-abortion campaigners in front of Parliament building
6. Various of anti-abortion campaigners collecting fake, rubber foetuses and putting them into stroller
7. Parliament building exteriors
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Warsaw, Poland - 08 March 2021
8. Various of protests against abortion restrictions
9. Various of protesters and police
STORYLINE:
Poland's parliament was on Thursday finally holding a long-awaited debate on liberalizing the country's strict abortion law.
The traditionally Catholic nation has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe.
But the reality is that many women terminate pregnancies at home with pills mailed from abroad. Currently the issue is regulated by a 1993 law passed under the influence of the Catholic church, banning abortion in most cases.
It's further restricted following a 2020 constitutional court ruling that prevents abortion in case of fetal abnormalities.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who took power in December, has vowed to legalize abortion until the 12th week of pregnancy.
Conservatives in his government have delayed the debate until now.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel [phone] Email: [e-mail].
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...