Speaking at a press conference in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEP Krzysztof Śmiszek argued that the country's abortion ban constitutes inhumane treatment.
A debate on Poland's abortion laws is set to take place in the European Parliament, following a request from socialist and liberal MEPs. The discussion will focus on findings by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which concluded that Poland's current legislation violates women’s rights.
MEP Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus expressed frustration over recurring questions in the Parliament's corridors about why Poland has not addressed the issue of abortion rights.
"I feel ashamed when I have to explain why this issue remains unresolved," she said, attributing the situation to ongoing hesitations among members of the Trzecia Droga party. "This debate will highlight the devastating findings of the UN report, showing how women’s rights are treated in Poland," she added.
Śmiszek emphasized that a "democratic majority in the European Parliament believes that a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy is a fundamental right." He agreed with the UN Committee’s view that the abortion ban amounts to inhumane treatment, calling it "a form of torture directed at a specific group in society—women."
The UN report by CEDAW, published in August, was the result of an investigation into Poland's abortion laws, which was initiated in 2021. According to CEDAW, the country's strict abortion rules lead to serious violations of women's human rights, forcing many women to carry pregnancies against their will, resort to unsafe methods, or travel abroad to seek legal abortions.
Under the amendments to abortion laws introduced in 2021, the procedure is only permitted if the pregnancy is a result of sexual assault or incest, or if it poses a direct threat to the woman’s life or health.
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Source: PAP