Members of the European Parliament express serious concern about the situation of refugee women from Ukraine and call for concrete efforts by the EU Institutions to ensure fulfilment of obligations under the Temporary Protection Directive. 17 October 2023 (PRESS RELEASE) – Today, the European Parliament held a plenary debate on the situation of refugee women from Ukraine, including their access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. The debate addressed the serious barriers refugee women READ MORE
Category: Activities
REQUEST FOR SIGN-ON: HRC54 JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT ON ABORTION
In support of the upcoming International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September, the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, the International Service for Human Rights, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, MSI Reproductive Choices and the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education have developed a joint statement READ MORE
POSITION REGARDING THE DRAFT LAW ON IVF REIMBURSEMENT OR FUNDING
The position of the Foundation for Women and Family Planning FEDERA regarding the draft Act amending the Act on health care services financed from public funds (the so-calledAct on IVF reimbursement or funding). In the course of public consultations conducted by the Senate of the Republic of Poland concerning a bill amending the Act on health care services financed from public funds (Senate print no. 1072), the FEDERA Foundation received on 20.07.2023 the bill in READ MORE
“CARE IN CRISIS” REPORT PRESENTED IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Polish foundations FEDERA and Feminoteka, along with the Center for Reproductive Rights and partner organisations from Hungary, Slovakia and Romania were in the European Parliament to present the report “Care in Crisis. Failures to guarantee the sexual and reproductive health and rights of refugees from Ukraine in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.” Since Federa has been closely involved in the research for the fact finding as regards the situation in Poland, the organisation’s International Advocacy READ MORE
FEDERA’S STATEMENT FOR THE 53RD SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Below you will find FEDERA’s statement for the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council on the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Felipe González Morales following his visit to Poland. Human Rights Council53st session of the Human Rights CouncilJune 2023 Thank you, President. I make this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland.We welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human READ MORE
AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF TO THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE CASE V.M V. POLAND
FEDERA and the Center for Reproductive Rights submitted an amicus curiae brief to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of V.M. v. Poland (application number 40002/22). The complaint concerns an Armenian national who suffered a miscarriage in the Center for Foreigners in Biała Podlaska while waiting for her asylum application to be examined. In this amicus brief we describe the obligations of states under international human rights law, including the European Convention READ MORE
FEDERA’S LETTER TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES ON SUPPORT FOR DECRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION
FEDERA has sent a letter to the fifteen parties indicated in pre-election polls as candidates in the upcoming elections asking them a simple question: are you FOR or AGAINST the decriminalization of abortion in Poland? We expect quick and simple answers: YES or NO. The answers will be published for the citizens to know which political option intends to be mindful of women’s rights. We do not want evasive answers or proposals for dialogue, asking READ MORE
FEDERA’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE POLISH MINISTRY OF HEALTH
FEDERA requested to be part of this expert team and sent the letter to the Minister with the recommendations on what these guidelines should include. Following the Ministry’s press conference of 12 June organised after the death of Dorota in the hospital of Nowy Targ, the Minister of Health formed an expert team to develop guidelines for hospitals on providing abortion care. Our main asks are: The work of the expert team will not have READ MORE
CARE IN CRISIS: FAILURES TO GUARANTEE THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS OF REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE IN HUNGARY, POLAND, ROMANIA, AND SLOVAKIA
Some refugees in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia are returning to Ukraine temporarily to access abortion, contraception and other reproductive health services. New fact-finding study underlines urgent need for action by national governments, the European Union, and the humanitarian and donor community. 16.05.23 (PRESS RELEASE) Geneva – Women from Ukraine who sought sanctuary in the European Union often experience a series of entrenched barriers when seeking access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and gender-based violence READ MORE
GROUNDBREAKING WIN FOR FEDERA – MENTAL HEALTH RECOGNIZED AS A REASON FOR ACCESSING ABORTION IN POLISH HOSPITALS
A groundbreaking win for FEDERA – mental health recognized as a reason for accessing abortion in Polish hospitals, says the National Patients’ Ombudsman Foundation for Women and Family Planning FEDERA won a clear position on abortion in public hospitals from the Ombudsman for Patients’ Rights. Today there is no doubt: the refusal to terminate the pregnancy, despite the threat to the patient’s mental health identified by the psychiatrist, is a violation of the law. FEDERA’s READ MORE
OUTCOME OF THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OF POLAND AT THE 52ND SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
During the March session of the Human Rights Council FEDERA made a statement on the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review on Poland. The statement derived from the UPR report FEDERA and Sexual Rights Initiative submitted to the Human Rights Council for the purpose of Poland’s review. In the statement we welcomed the robust recommendations addressed to Poland on sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s rights (17 of them on SRHR only!), and READ MORE
FEDERA AT THE 52ND SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL – DECRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION IN POLAND IS IMPERATIVE
Human Rights Council 52nd session of the Human Rights Council March 2023 Thank you, President. I make this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland. Decriminalisation of abortion in Poland is imperative. The recent case of criminal conviction of an ?activist who helped in abortion and persistent denials of legal abortion services demonstrate that only full liberalisation and decriminalisation of abortion would make a change in the Polish context. READ MORE
2022 ANNUAL REPORT
The past year will always be associated with the beginning of the largest armed conflict in Europe in years. Russian aggression against Ukraine has changed the lives of all of us, and it can be felt in virtually every aspect of everyday life. It has also influenced our work. Since the outbreak of the war, FEDERA has been providing war refugees with support in access to sexual and reproductive health services. We quickly built not READ MORE
SRHR AND FEDERA OVERVIEW – FEBRUARY 2023
Federa news and projects FEDERA’s SRHR support for Ukrainian refugees February marks 1 year anniversary of the Russian invasion on Ukraine. FEDERA drafted a rep ort on the activities responding to the needs of Ukrainian refugees as regards SRHR. Among these are: Since June 2022, led by the Center for Reproductive Rights, FEDERA and Feminoteka are the two organisations from Poland that together with other organisations from countries bordering Ukraine have been working together on a project to document READ MORE
SRHR AND FEDERA OVERVIEW – JANUARY 2023
Federa news and projects FEDERA intervention in the case of the 24-year-old girl who was refused access to legal abortion care At the end of January, in a small town in Podlasie (Eastern part of Poland), a 24-year-old girl with intellectual disability was raped by her uncle. When it turned out that she was pregnant, the prosecutor was notified and initiated criminal investigation. Two hospitals closest to her place of residence refused to perform abortion READ MORE
SRHR AND FEDERA OVERVIEW – DECEMBER 2022
FEDERA NEWS AND PROJECTS FEDERA’s SRHR support for Ukrainian refugees LEAFLET ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN REFUGEES and information on our legal helpline I Ukrainian and Polish here Since June 2022, led by the Center for Reproductive Rights, FEDERA and Feminoteka are the two organisations from Poland that together with other organisations from countries bordering Ukraine have been working together on a project to document the experiences of adult refugee women from Ukraine who needed access to sexual and READ MORE
FEDERA’S PUBLICATIONS ON ABORTION, CONTRACEPTION AND SEX ED IN UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN | ПУБЛІКАЦІЇ ПРО АБОРТИ, КОНТРАЦЕПЦІЮ ТА СТАТЕВЕ ВИХОВАННЯ УКРАЇНСЬКОЮ ТА РОСІЙСЬКОЮ МОВАМИ
UKRAINIAN | УКРАЇНСЬКА МОВА: ЛИСТОВКА ПРО РЕПРОДУКТИВНЕ ЗДОРОВ’Я ДЛЯ УКРАЇНЦІВ, ЩО ПРИЇХАЛИ ДО ПОЛЬЩИ ПІСЛЯ 24/2/2022 RUSSIAN | РУССКИЙ ЯЗЫК:
SRHR AND FEDERA OVERVIEW – NOVEMBER 2022
FEDERA NEWS AND PROJECTS FEDERA’s SRHR support for Ukrainian refugees LEAFLET ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN REFUGEES and information on our legal helpline I Ukrainian and Polish here Joint initiative addressing SRHR needs of women and girls fleeing the war in Ukraine Since June 2022, led by the Center for Reproductive Rights, FEDERA and Feminoteka are the two organisations from Poland that together with other organisations from countries bordering Ukraine have been working together on a project to document READ MORE
JOINT INITIATIVE ADDRESSING SRHR NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS FLEEING THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of people, particularly women and children fled Ukraine and crossed the borders of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, other EU member states and Moldova. Thousands of them needed sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence support services, and thousands more may need these services in the future. Since June 2022, led by the Center for Reproductive Rights, FEDERA and Feminoteka are the two organisations from Poland READ MORE
POLAND’S UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW – 17 RECOMMENDATIONS ON ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION
The review of Poland under the Fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review was held on 15 November 2022 by the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. Two days after the Working Group adopted the report on Poland containing 433 recommendations to improve the protection of human rights as regards its full spectrum covered by the international human rights treaties. In the area of sexual and reproductive rights Poland has received recommendations from 17 States. READ MORE
FEDERA TWO YEARS AFTER THE ABORTION BAN
Two years have passed since the illegitimate Constitutional Court’s ruling on abortion. On 22 October 2020, Polish flowed Constitutional Tribunal ruled that terminating a pregnancy in the case of severe fetal abnormalities is unconstitutional. The latest Onet poll shows that 70% of Polish women and men do not support these shameful changes. Only 9% view the ruling well. In the poll, respondents named the culprits of women’s hell: Kaczyński and the Church. A Radio Zet READ MORE
SRHR AND FEDERA OVERVIEW – SEPTEMBER 2022
RELEVANT SRHR DEVELOPMENTS IN POLAND Criminal charges against doctors in the case of Izabela from Pszczyna In 22 September 2021 Izabela from Pszczyna died for lack of access to life saving abortion care. Following family notification to the Prosecutor, one year later the three doctors who were responsible for taking care of Izabela have been charged with causing danger to her life and health. In addition, two out of three doctors have been charged with READ MORE
FEDERA’S APPEAL TO GYNECOLOGISTS ON SAFE ABORTION DAY
On International Safe Abortion Day, the Foundation for Women and Family Planning (FEDERA) is appealing to gynecologists: the health of pregnant women should be your priority. Certificates from psychiatrists who firmly state that the pregnancy endangers the health or life of a given person are just as binding as the statements issued by a gynecologist. Passively watching the suffering of a pregnant person and their relatives is unacceptable. Saving a woman’s life and health, including READ MORE
FEDERA’S APPEAL TO PSYCHIATRISTS ON SAFE ABORTION DAY
On International Safe Abortion Day, the Foundation for Women and Family Planning (FEDERA) is appealing to psychiatrists. We know that many of you are convinced that the risk to the mental health of a pregnant woman is a precondition for an abortion, however the Polish Psychiatric Association is silent on the matter. The lack of an official position is a silent agreement women who have found themselves in a dramatic situation being ignored. Remember that READ MORE
FEDERA’S STATEMENT AT THE 51ST SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN GENEVA
In this session’s statement FEDERA focus is on access to sexual and reproductive health services for survivors of sexual assaults including refugees from Ukraine and Belarus. Human Rights Council 51st regular session of the Human Rights Council September 2022 Thank you President. I make this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland. Ukrainian refugees even those who are survivors of sexual assault face severe obstacles in access to abortion READ MORE
SRHR IN POLAND OVERVIEW – JULY 2022
Relevant SRHR developments in Poland Pregnancy register The so-called „pregnancy register” came into force on 6 July by means of the regulation of the Ministry of Health which concerns data inserted in the online medical information system. Data on pregnancy will be included in this database. Doctors only are to have access to this database. Please see FEDERA comments here. Abortion activist’s criminal case On 14 July 2022, the second hearing of abortion activist READ MORE
FEDERA SIGNS CRR’S CALL TO ACTION ON PROTECTING ABORTION ACCESS IN EUROPE
In solidarity with our American sisters – after the decision issued by the United States Supreme Court in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturns Roe v. Wade, thereby dismantling the U.S. constitutional right to abortion, together with over 130 organisations working on gender equality and SRHR in Europe, FEDERA joined the Call to Action initiated by our partner organization, Center for Reproductive Rights. Click the image below to open the file.
OUR STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AFTER THE US SUPREME COURT’S RULING OVERTURNING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION
On 24 June 2022 the US Supreme Court set aside the nearly 50-year precedent in the Roe v. Wade case which guaranteed American women the constitutional right to abortion. The immediate reaction of a dozen states clearly shows what will happen overseas in the coming days – several states have introduced the procedure to be illegal in just few hours, and subsequent bans are only a matter of time. This decision of the American Supreme READ MORE
„LEGAL ABORTION. WITHOUT COMPROMISE” CIVIC DRAFT BILL REJECTED BY THE POLISH PARLIAMENT IN THE FIRST READING
The draft bill initiated by civil society organisations was rejected by the Sejm in the first reading on 23 June 2022. 265 MPs supported the rejection, 175 MPs were against and 4 MPs abstained. Despite phenomenal speeches of the representatives of the civic initiative’ s legislative committee which contributed to the ongoing debate on abortion, the deputies decided to uphold their hypocritical vision of reality from which abortion is erased. At FEDERA we know that READ MORE
FEDERA STATEMENT FOR THE 50TH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE WORKING GROUP ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
Human Rights Council 50th regular session of the Human Rights Council 16 June 2022 Thank you Mr. President, I make this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland. We welcome the Working Group’s report and analysis on the importance and restrictions faced by young feminist activists, including those organizing for sexual rights. In Poland too, young feminists organizing for abortion access are facing threats, reprisals and criminalization for READ MORE
FEDERA COMMENTS ON THE SO-CALLED “PREGNANCY REGISTER” THAT IS BEING INTRODUCED IN POLAND
“Pregnancy Register” is a project of the Ministry of Health, which in the form of regulation entered into force on 3 June 2022. It consists of collecting information about the patient in a nationwide digital data system, including information about diagnosed pregnancy. Although the Ministry explains its aim is to facilitate the work of doctors, in today’s Poland, every change in reproductive health, especially related to the collection of sensitive data gives rise to suspicion READ MORE
LEAFLET ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN REFUGEES WHO CAME FROM UKRAINE TO POLAND AFTER 24/2/2022 | ПАМ’ЯТКА З ПИТАНЬ РЕПРОДУКТИВНОГО ЗДОРОВ’Я ДЛЯ ЖІНОК-БІЖЕНЦІВ, ЯКІ ПРИЇХАЛИ З УКРАЇНИ ДО ПОЛЬЩІ ПІСЛЯ 24/2/2022
Our leaflet contains the most important information on the access to contraception, prenatal tests, pregnancy and perinatal care, and abortion care in Poland. Наша брошура містить найважливішу інформацію про доступ до контрацепції, пренатальних тестів, вагітності та перинатального догляду, а також абортів у Польщі. 🇺🇦 УКРАЇНСЬКА МОВА 🇵🇱 JĘZYK POLSKI 🇬🇧 ENGLISH LANGUAGE
FEDERA AND SRI’S REPORT TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS VIOLATIONS FOR THE UPR OF POLAND
Foundation for Women and Family Planning (FEDERA) and the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) submitted a joint report on the state and degree of violations of sexual and reproductive rights by Poland for the Fourth Universal Periodic Review of Poland planned for November 2022. The report focuses on violations of women’s sexual and reproductive rights in and the stark impact of the restriction on abortion introduced in November 2020 that amounts to quasi total abortion ban READ MORE
BROCHURE ON GYNECOLOGICAL CARE FOR WOMEN REFUGUEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN POLAND
ATTENTION: If you’re Ukrainian and have arrived in Poland as a refugee after 24 February 2022, please click here for relevant information on reproductive healthcare in Poland. As a woman applying for international protection in Poland you have the right to the protection of reproductive health and associated medical services. Reproductive health means that you can decide if you want to have children and that you have the freedom to decide how many, as well READ MORE
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN POLAND
Poland remains the country with the highest number of refugees arriving from Ukraine, with over 2,5 million people have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border. According to Warsaw’s mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski, the city is one of the main communication hubs for Ukrainians, with over 320 000 people reaching Warsaw since the start of the war. Trzaskowski also claims that the capital now serves as a new home to over 200 000 thousand Ukrainians – over 10% of the city’s READ MORE
FEDERA’S STATEMENT CONCERNING THREATS FOR SRHR DURING THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN POLAND READ DURING THE UN HRC SESSION
On March 22, during the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, our statement was read. Human Rights Council 49th regular session of the Human Rights Council ITEM 4 General debate 21 March 2022 I make this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland. As a result of the Russian invasion on Ukraine, around 2 million Ukrainians fled to Poland[1] majority of whom are women READ MORE
CIVIL SOCIETY CALLS ON EUROPEAN AND OTHER GLOBAL LEADERS TO PROTECT THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS FLEEING UKRAINE CONFLICT
Brussels, 17 March 2022 (Press Release) Today over 60 organizations called on European authorities and the international community to urgently protect the health of women and girls fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. In a Call to Action published today, the organizations expressed grave concern about the reproductive health care needs and human rights of refugees in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia and also outlined the severe impact that the war is having on the sexual READ MORE
ONGOING RULE OF LAW CRISIS IN POLAND VIOLATES SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF WOMEN – ART. 7 HEARING OF POLAND BY THE GAC
On 22 February 2022, Poland will be heard at the of for General Affairs Council of the EU Ministers in connection with the procedure under Art. 7 TEU, initiated in 2017 by the European Commission in response to violations of the rule of law in Poland. At this stage, there are no doubts as to the scale of the impact of rule of law crisis on the fundamental rights of EU citizens, especially as regards READ MORE
THE FEDERATION’S REPORT THE UN COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE
In January 2022 the Federation for Women and Family Planning submitted report to the Committee against Torture for its consideration in the context of the preparation of the List of Issues Prior to Reporting on Poland’s implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This submission highlights Poland’s ongoing failure to comply with its human rights obligations under the Convention concerning access to safe abortion care. The READ MORE
“NOT ONE MORE”. ONE YEAR AFTER THE ILLEGITIMATE ABORTION BAN
NOT ONE MORE One year after the illegitimate ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal Federa will not leave any woman alone One year has passed since the most brutal attack on women’s rights in modern Polish history. A year of pain, terror, and suffering for thousands of women. From the very announcement of the ruling of the flawed Constitutional Tribunal the Federation for Women and Family Planning has warned that the ban on abortion would result READ MORE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS URGES POLAND TO ENSURE ACCESS TO LAWFUL ABORTION CARE
On 2 December 2021, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe issued a decision strongly urging Poland to adopt, without further delay, long overdue clear and unified procedures for access to lawful abortion care and information. The decision expresses serious concerns about Poland’s longstanding failure to comply with the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments in the cases of Tysiąc v. Poland, R.R. v. Poland and P. and S. v. Poland. The judgments became final in 2007, 2011, and READ MORE
FEDERATION’S ACTIVITIES AROUND INTERNATIONAL SAFE ABORTION DAY 2021
As each year, the Federation for Women and Family Planning celebrates Safe Abortion Day by getting actively involved in many actions and campaigns to show its commitment to women’s right to safe abortion on the national and international level. In Poland → the Federation, followed by the women’s rights organizations of the Coalition for Equality and Choice addressed a strong call to the members of the Polish Parliament, in which we demand the restoration of READ MORE
FEDERATION’S STATEMENTS AT THE 48TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
On 1 October the Federation presented its statement at the debate on Universal Periodic Reviews in the context of Poland’s upcoming review in 2020. We urged Human Rights Council and all member states to hold our government accountable for obligations to ensure right to safe, legal and accessible abortion, modern contraception and comprehensive sexuality education. On 4 October our statement was read out for the occasion of the International Safe Abortion Day. As each year READ MORE
HRC48 JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT ON ABORTION – REQUEST TO SIGN UNTIL 1 OCTOBER
For the International Safe Abortion Day, the Federation for Women and Family Planning within the coalition of the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, the International Service for Human Rights, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education have developed a joint statement READ MORE
CALL TO POLISH MPs – WOMEN’S RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS CLAIM BACK THE RIGHT TO ABORTION
The Federation for Women and Family Planning followed by women’s rights organizations of the Great Coalition for Equality and Choice addressed a strong call to the members of Polish Parliament, in which they demand the restoration of freedom to decide about their body, pregnancy and the future of the family. Read it below: To the Members of the Polish Parliament, all political parties! Today, on World Safe Abortion Day, the Federation for Women and Family READ MORE
GREVIO REPORT ON POLAND PUBLISHED
16 September 2021 — The Council of Europe Expert Group on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) published its first baseline evaluation report on Poland. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention by Poland. As regards SRHR, some of the GREVIO recommendations to the Polish government take account of the suggestions that the Federation proposed in its alternative report submitted to GREVIO. FEDERA READ MORE
THE FEDERATION REPORTS TO THE UN COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
26 August 2021 — The 88th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will be held this September during which Poland is to report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Federation for Women and Family Planning submitted a report to the Committee presenting Poland’s numerous deficiencies in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention as regards ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health services, including READ MORE
SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE RESCUE BILL – SIGN PETITION CALLING FOR DEPENALIZATION OF ABORTION IN POLAND!
26 July — Please sign the petition to support the Rescue Bill – we need to depenalise abortion in Poland! We call on all Members of the Polish Parliament to vote to immediately adopt the Rescue Bill. The proposed Rescue Bill removes criminal liability for physicians who perform abortions in case of fetal impairment and for those assisting with abortions. After the controversial ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal came into power in January 2021, this READ MORE
SRHR IN POLAND OVERVIEW – JUNE-JULY 2021
July 16 Work of the Federation for Women and Family Planning Decriminalisation of abortion campaign – sign a petition Federation continues its campaign aiming at decriminalising abortion in Poland. Please support our action and sign the petition asking Polish MPs to proceed with the so-called Rescue Bill tabled at the Parliament by the Left party. The Rescue Bill removes criminal liability for physicians who perform abortions in case of fetal impairment and for those assisting READ MORE
EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO CONSIDER POLISH WOMEN’S COMPLAINTS ON THE ABORTION BAN
July 9 — In April 2021 we started the Women’s Collective Complaint campaign. Its aim was to encourage Polish women to send applications to the European Court of Human Rights in connection with the decision of the so-called Constitutional Tribunal that banned abortion due to severe fetal defects. The European Court of Human Rights has just announced that it will deal with the merits of some of the complaints that it has received. This means READ MORE
WE DEMAND DECRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION IN POLAND – THE FEDERATION’S STATEMENT AT THE UN HRC47
Human Rights Council47th regular session of the Human Rights Council21 June 2021 – 13 July 2021ID with WG on discrimination against women – report on Women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights in crisis I make this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland.We welcome the Working Group’s reports on SRHR in crisis, on its visit to Romania, and its continuous monitoring of the SRHR crisis in Poland READ MORE
REQUEST TO THE PORTUGESE PRESIDENCY TO TAKE ACTION ON THE DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN POLAND
To: Mariana Vieira da Silva, Minister of State for the Presidency, Ana Paula Zacarias, State Secretary for European Affairs, Rosa Monteiro, Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality, Ana Mendes Godinho, Minister for Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Ambassador Nuno Brito, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the European Union, 19 April 2021, Re: Request to the Portuguese Presidency to take action on the deteriorating situation in Poland Dear Ministers, As EU Ministers prepare to discuss READ MORE
65TH SESSION OF THE UN COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
March 19 — From 15 to 26 March 2021, the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women is taking place. Due to COVID-19 situation, most of the meetings are virtual. Priority theme this year is: Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. Read more about the CSW and its programme READ MORE
OUR STATEMENT ON THE 46TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
On the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council the Federation for Women and Family Planning, on behalf of the Great Coalition for Equality and Choice presented the statement on yet more alarming violations of reproductive rights of Polish women. Watch the debate here. 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 3: General Debate Federation for Women and Family Planning, Poland 8 March 2021 Thank you, President, The Federation READ MORE
2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Our report for the year 2020 is ready. Click on the cover below to read it.
“LEGAL ABORTION WITHOUT COMPROMISE” CIVIC BILL INITIATIVE
On October 22, 2020, the illegitimate Polish Constitutional Court ruled that access to abortion due to “high probability of severe and irreversible foetal disability or incurable disease threatening its life” is unconstitutional. Fierce protests have been held incessantly following the decision of the CT. On 27 January 2021, the text of the illegal Constitutional Court statement was published in the Journal of Laws which means its formal entry into force of the decision. The publication READ MORE
WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE COMPLAINT: LODGE AN APPLICATION TO THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN STRASBURG AGAINST THE RULING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL ON ABORTION
January 1 — Today, together with cause dedicated lawyers, we are starting an action titled Women’s Collective Complaint (Skarga Kobiet). Civic Initiative Women’s Collective Complaint (Inicjatywa Obywatelska Skarga Kobiet) and the Federation for Women and Family Planning have developed a model application to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (ECHR). It is a complaint against violation of rights guaranteed under the European Convention of Human Rights, which is in force in Poland. Anyone READ MORE
WE CALL ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO DEFEND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS IN POLAND
The Federation, together with other NGOs in the Great Coalition for Equality and Choice, joined several international NGOs and signed a letter to the Commisioners of the EC: V. Jurova, H. Dalli, D. Reynders expressing concerns about the recent developments and continued and persistent attacks against the rule of law and human rights in Poland. We requested the EC to expand the scope of the ongoing procedure under Article 7 of the TEU on Poland READ MORE
SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF UN RECOMMENDATIONS ON ABORTION IN POLAND – Oct 2020
Poland has received several recommendations from the UN on abortion. Several UN treaty bodies have also recommended Poland to expand access to abortion in order to comply with its human rights obligations under the Convention against Torture,[i] the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,[ii] the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,[iii] the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,[iv] the Convention on the Rights of the Child,[v] and the READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL SAFE ABORTION DAY 2020 – FEDERATION’S MANIFESTO & STATEMENTS
For more than a decade, September 28 has been celebrated in many countries as the International Safe Abortion Day. The tradition of this day, however, goes back to 1990, when in South America this day served for advocacy campaigns on the decriminalization of abortion. The Federation for Women and Family Planning has been celebrating this special day from the very beginning as part of the international movement for legal and affordable abortion. World Safe Abortion READ MORE
FUNDAMENTALIST PROPAGANDA AGAINST SEXUALITY EDUCATION IN POLAND
This short article is a brief summary of the recent mobilisation of the conservatives in Poland against the attempts to provide crumbs of sexuality education in Polish schools. With the beginning of the new school year 2020/2021 the activities of Ordo Iuris[1] (ultraconservative think tank) in the field of parents’ involvement in the education of pupils in schools got enhanced. These activities target the obvious enemy to their world order which are the LGBT+ people/organisations READ MORE
SRHR in Poland during the Covid-19 pandemic – update on the worrying legislative “developments”
April 2020: Parliamentary debate on 2 legislative proposals quasi totally banning abortion and sexuality education In the midst of coronavirus pandemic, the Polish Sejm decided to proceed with the 1st reading of the two controversial legislatives proposals. The reading took place on 15-16 of April, while the free movement of persons and the freedom of assembly were gravely limited. Due to public health grounds protests against the bills could not happen on the streets. Both READ MORE
Advocacy for referral obligation. International responses
On 27 May 2020 on the session of the Parliamentary Commission on Health the amendment introducing the referral obligation to the government draft bill on the doctors’ and dentists’ professions has been deleted. The draft bill without the referral obligation passed the 3rd reading in the Polish Sejm and was sent to the Senate for adoption (or deletion of amendments). The Senate where the opposition holds the majority restored the referral obligation to its draft. READ MORE
NEW REPORT: “CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS CONTRREVOLUTION – IS POLISH LAW UNDER THE THREAT OF CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALIST IDEOLOGY?”
As a member of the Great Coalition for Equality and Choice we proudly present the English summary of the Coalition’s report about the Institute for Legal Culture Ordo Iuris, which has been fostering cultural and religious counterrevolution in Poland and beyond. The publication is the civil society’s response to the growing sphere of activities and political impact of the Institute. It identifies and exposes the activities and strategies of Ordo Iuris. The authors sought to READ MORE
Statement for the 44th session of the Human Rights Council
This statement was delivered by the Federation for Women and Family Planning during the 44th session of the Human Rights Council. Watch the presentation of the statement We welcome the report of the WG on Women’s human rights in the changing world of work and strongly advocate for the recommendations included in the report to be taken seriously by the member states. Referring to the 2018 WG’s visit in Poland, the Federation wishes to evidence READ MORE
Poland uses COVID-19 pandemics to push for further restrictions in women’s access to sexual and reproductive rights
In the midst of coronavirus pandemic, the Polish Sejm decided to proceed with the 1st reading of the two scandalous legislatives proposals. The reading will take place on 15-16 of April, while the free movement of persons and freedom of assembly are gravely limited due to public health grounds and protests against the bills cannot happen on the streets. The first legislative initiative called “Stop abortion” has been brought for Sejm’s attention in 2017 and READ MORE
Hundreds of NGOs appeal to European governments to ensure safe and timely access to abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic and public health crisis is presenting grave challenges for health care systems across Europe. As European countries work to address the pandemic, protect their populations, and meet the increased demand on health care workers and health care facilities it is vital that they adopt measures to safeguard the health, human dignity, physical and mental integrity, and reproductive autonomy of women and girls in the region. In many countries the lack of government READ MORE
Federation’s successful advocacy for the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in SRHR
At the beginning of March 2020, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers examined (lack) of progress in the execution of 3 judgments of the European Court of Human Rights against Poland concerning some important aspects of access to basic SRHR services. The oldest judgment was issued in 2007 which makes 13 years of the pathetic execution process. The Committee adopted the following decisions in these cases: Tysiąc (2007)[1], R.R.[2] (2011), P. and S. (2013)[3] READ MORE
CSW64 & Beijing+25 – Feminist Declaration and our statement
Twenty-five years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the foundational global document on gender equality, governments at an abbreviated session of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) have reaffirmed a commitment to gender equality but, according to leading feminist groups and activists, fell short of committing to the transformative steps necessary to achieve this vision. To address the gaps in the political declaration adopted at the CSW READ MORE
Statements for the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council
We present statements that the Federation for Women and Family Planning submitted during the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council. Details on resolutions, panels and debates relevant to SRHR can be found on the website of our partner Sexual Rights Initiative. Statement regarding the situation in Poland on the occasion of the International Women’s Day Thank you, Madam President. I deliver this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning. The READ MORE
ANNUAL REPORT 2019
A lot happened in various areas of reproductive health in 2019, even though we did not witness mass protest in the face of antiabortion backlash. It was a busy year for the Federation. We addressed the problem of the lack of access to guaranteed reproductive health services, as well as the abuse of patient’s rights and the conscience clause. We supported protests against the sexuality education witch-hunt. To spread know-how and empowerment, we launched a READ MORE
“Sexual and reproductive health and rights in Europe”
he Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995 is the most ambitious road map for the empowerment of women and girls everywhere. In 2020, it will be 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action set strategic objectives and actions for the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern. The Beijing+25 Regional Review Meeting provided a forum for UNECE member States to review progress and identify challenges in the implementation of the Beijing READ MORE
Statements for the 42nd session of the Human Rights Council
The International Safe Abortion Day marked the 42nd session of the HUman Rights Council. The Federation for Women and Family Planning issued its own statements or joined statements of our partner Sexual Rights Initiative. Statement on behalf of the Coalition for EQuality and Choice Right to abortion is an essential part of women’s sexual and reproductive lives and health and is fundamental to women’s right to bodily autonomy. The human right to life and READ MORE
International Safe Abortion Day 2019 in Poland
This theme for 28th September 2019 is “Abortion is Healthcare” with the tagline “My Right to Decide!” and hashtag #MyAbortionMyHealth. In The Federation we have always seen abortion as a matter of health, self-determination, freedom and democracy. Therefore, our input to the celebration of September, 28 is the photo contest and exhibition entitled “Abortion. Poland. 21st century”. We have decided to organise the photo competition in order to use art as means of reflection on READ MORE
Joint statement on the outcome of the 41st session of the Human Rights Council
“Critical gains despite backlash”, reads a joint statement by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Sexual Rights Initiative, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Plan International, Choice for Youth and Sexuality, Arrow, the Coalition of African Lesbians, the Federation for Women and Family Planning, IPPF, RFSU and AWID on the outcome of the 41st session of the Human Rights Council. Download in a PDF file Despite concerted opposition by some States and anti-rights organizations READ MORE
Supplemental Information on Poland for the Review by the Committee against Torture
Federation for Women and Family Planning, Women Enabled International, Magdalena Szarota (Lancaster University and Association of Disabled Women. ONE.pl) and independent researchers Agnieszka Król and Agnieszka Wołowicz respectfully present this submission to the Committee against Torture due to its review of Poland’s compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Supplemental Information on Poland for the Review by the Committee against Torture in a PDF file The Federation for READ MORE
Global South Leadership on Women’s and Girls’ Rights
Kindly find below and attached herewith a joint statement by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Sexual Rights Initiative, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, CREA, Women Enabled International, Arrow, the Coalition of African Lesbians, the Federation for Women and Family Planning and Akahatá on the outcome of the 40th session of the Human Rights Council. We applaud South Africa’s leadership in bringing forth a resolution on discrimination against women and girls in sports READ MORE
Cherry-picking of women’s human rights. Summary of the 63rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
Feminist persistence at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has delivered new international standards on women’s human rights to social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure. These gains were achieved in spite of the increasingly polarised political environment at the UN’s biggest annual gathering on women’s rights. “In the face of extreme pressure and cyber-bullying, the majority of delegations stood strong in defence of women’s human rights. What we’ve READ MORE
Statement for the 40th Human Rights Council
We welcome the tenth anniversary report and strategies for advancing cultural rights for the next decade presented by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. We recognise the importance of those rights within the universal human rights framework. We welcome the commitment of the Special Rapporteur to giving a voice to human rights defenders, including women’s human right defenders. As it has been underlined, such approach strengthens their interest in the mandate especially READ MORE
Poland criticized by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has expressed serious concern about Poland’s longstanding failure to ensure that women and girls in Poland can access legal abortion care in practice. In a very important decision the Committee of Ministers has urged Poland to implement three landmark judgments on women’s access to abortion from the European Court of Human Rights and give effect to women’s entitlements to abortion under Polish law. On foot of Poland’s failures, READ MORE
Statement for the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women
Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland, Union Women’s Center from Georgia, “Women and Modern World” Social Charitable Center from Azerbaijan and Women’s Rights Center from Armenia are Economic and Social Council accredited organisations working in the field of women’s rights in Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus and operate on national, regional and international level. We welcome the focus and the theme of the 63rd Commission of the Status of Women on READ MORE
Statement for the 40th Human Rights Council on cultural rights
This statement was delivered at the 40th session of the Human Right Council by the Federation for Women and Family Planning on behalf of the Great Coalition for Equality and Choice from Poland. The statements refers to the report by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights “Cultural rights: tenth anniversary report“. We welcome the tenth anniversary report and strategies for advancing cultural rights for the next decade presented by the Special Rapporteur READ MORE
Fighting drastic anti-choice banners. Case study: Poland
The anti-choice organizations in Poland are becoming more and more visible in the public sphere with their drastic images which instrumentalize dismembered fetuses to distort the truth about abortion. The Right to Life Foundation has been presenting its manipulative exhibition since 2005, but it was not until the elections in 2015 that they could extend its scope of action. The Right to Life Foundation and The Life and Family Foundation were given a green light READ MORE
Annual report 2018
The year 2018 brought new barriers in access to reproductive health services, but also further consolidation of social forces against backlash and attacks on the fundamental rights of women and various disadvantaged groups. The beginning of the year was a blow to the pro-choice community, which had to witness the mediocre parliamentary debate on two civic draft bills – the progressive and comprehensive “Save Women” and the barbaric “Stop Abortion”. The embarrassing discussion and the READ MORE
ARROW for Change – The Right to Choose
The decision and choice on whether to have children, when to have them, how many children to have and in what intervals, belongs to and is the sole right of a woman. No woman should be forced to continue a pregnancy against her will or face life, health or legal risks as a result of wanting or having an abortion. Women’s right to abortion is rooted in international human rights standards, which guarantee the rights READ MORE
Statements for the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council
This is a statement of the Federation for Women and Family Planning on behalf of the Great Coalition for Equality and Choice from Poland. It was delivered at the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 24th in support of the September 28 Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion. We welcome the report of the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women in Law and in READ MORE
“Sexual and reproductive health rights and the implication of conscientious objection”
We are delighted to present a new report on SRHR and the conscientious objection. This study was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee. It aims to provide a comparative overview of the situation in the European Union, in terms of access to sexual and reproductive healthcare goods (such as medicines) and services (such as abortion and family planning), from both legal READ MORE
Joint submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Federation for Women and Family Planning, TUS Foundation, Strefa Wenus z Milo Association, Elektrownia Inspiracji Foundation, Stowarzyszenie Inicjatyw Kobiecych/Association of Women Initiatives and Agnieszka Wołowicz respectfully present this submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in advance of its review of Poland’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The submission addresses concerns regarding women with disabilities’ enjoyment of sexual and reproductive rights and raises questions READ MORE
Statements for the 38th Session of the Human Rights Council
This joint statement expresses support for the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women in Law and in Practice and commends the Working Group’s strong report to the Council on reasserting equality and countering rollbacks [A /HRC/38/46] Co-signatories: Center for Reproductive Rights, RFSU, IPPF, SRI, The Federation for Women and Family Planning, ASTRA Network, Plan International, AWID. The signatories commend the Working Group for its fruitful labour since the inception of its mandate. Over the years, READ MORE
Great mobilization on #BlackFriday
March 23 is yet another historic moment in the Polish history. Renewed attempt to ban abortion in case of foetal impairment have brought almost 90 000 people to the streets of Warsaw, not to mention other 23 cities in Poland and 13 abroad. How did it start? On the March, 14 the Polish Episcopal Conference appealed for the “Stop abortion” bill to be proceeded. A day later, the Head of the Committee on Justice and READ MORE
International support against the pending abortion ban in Poland
Positive vote on the draconian draft law “Stop abortion” in the Committee on Justice has resulted not only in many examples of fierce civic opposition like mass mobilization on the Black Friday (23.04; circa 90000 participants), but also it has captured attention of foreign media, NGOs and human rights bodies. Poland has received many proofs of international solidarity, including statements by the UN human rights experts, a group of MEPs, the Council of Europe Commissioner READ MORE
Over 200 international NGOs appeal for the rejection of “Stop abortion” bill
Poland’s Parliament should listen to the voices of women across Poland and reject a regressive legislative proposal that would erode reproductive rights, over 200 human and women’s rights groups from across the globe said in a statement issued today. The Parliament is debating a draft bill entitled “Stop Abortion.” If adopted, this legislation will severely limit the already restricted grounds on which women can lawfully access abortion in Poland. It will place women’s health and READ MORE
“Suffocating the Movement – Shrinking space for women’s rights”
Increasing fundamentalism, conservatism and traditional values started suffocating the women’s movement. Women were physically prevented from moving freely and women’s organisations were threatened and harassed. The shrinking space for civil society organisations has a negative impact on all organisations, but it hits women’s organisations particularly hard. In patriarchal societies, women are excluded from decision-making arenas, so their fight for influence and to secure women’s rights takes place within the civil society. The Federation for Women READ MORE
Statement for the 51st session of the Commission on Population and Development
The Federation for Women and Family Planning with its partners and allies from Central and Eastern Europe welcomes the theme of fifty-first session of the Commission on Population and Development: “Sustainable cities, human mobility and international migration” (9-13.04.2018). Statement for the 51 session of the Commission on Population and Development in a PDF file In the world’s rapidly growing urban spaces, international migrants represent a critical mass. We would like to highlight the issue of READ MORE
Statement for the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women
The Federation for Women and Family Planning welcomes the sixty-second session of the Commission on the Status of Women (12-23.03.208) and its priority theme of “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”. Statement in a PDF file Central and Eastern European region serves as an example of remaining challenges in progress concerning achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls, particularly in the area READ MORE
Conformism, contempt & conceit – voting on abortion-related bills in the Polish Parliament
10/01 will be remembered as another day when Polish women were betrayed by people who were given mandate to represent their citizens. Citizens and their legislative initiative. Polish MPs have rejected the “Save women” bill and referred to the committee the “Stop abortion” bill. We thought we hit rock bottom, then the anti-choice majority knocked from down below. 80 pro-choice organizations have appealed to the MPs for a fact-based, open-minded and genuine debate in the READ MORE
#25YearsOfWomen’sHell – 25th disgraceful anniversary of the Polish anti-abortion law
7th January 1993 Act on Family Planning, Human Embryo Protection and Conditions of Legal Pregnancy Termination (later: the Act) has had a detrimental effect on women’s reproductive and sexual health and rights for 25 years. Due to the anniversary and upcoming debates about two abortion-related citizens’ bills[1] in the Parliament, the Federation for Women and Family Planning has launched the #25YearsOfWomen’sHell campaign so as to illustrate the fictional character of the Act and its multiple READ MORE
Attempts to use the non-sovereign Constitutional Tribunal in order to restrict women’s rights to legal abortion
A group of extremist MPs, mainly from the ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) and Kukiz’15, submitted a motion challenging the constitutionality of one of the cases, which allows for abortion according to The Family Planning, Human Embryo Protection and Conditions of Permissibility of Abortion Act. MPs claim that the right to abortion in case of a severe and irreversible fetal defect or incurable illness that threatens the foetus’s life interferes with other constitutional values READ MORE
Poland against UN standards on abortion and capital punishment
The ongoing battle around fundamental reproductive rights in Poland becomes even more fierce. Government’s attempts to criminalize abortions and make one of the toughest anti-abortion laws even stricter are expressed in its statement delivered to the Human Rights Committee. Polish non-governmental organizations are deeply concerned about the official remarks to the General Comment No 36 on article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the right to life. The General Comments READ MORE
“Save Women” bill with 500 000 signatures submitted to the Polish Parliament
On October, 23 the “Save Women” Civic Committee has tabled almost 500 000 signatures collected under the bill on women’s rights and conscious parenthood. The lower chamber has now three months to initiate debate on the draft legislation. It is on the ruling party if it will be sent to further proceeding – as promised in the election campaign, or if it will be rejected – as the practice up to now shows. The READ MORE
Joint Statement on Access to Safe and Legal Abortion Globally
HRC36: General Debate Item 8 25th September 2017 Joint statement on behalf of Action Canada for Population and Development; Federation for Women and Family Planning; Center for Reproductive Rights; Ipas; ActionAid; Advocates for Youth; ARC International (Allied Rainbow Communities International); Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW); Asociación Pro-Bienestar de la Familia Colombiana “Profamilia”; Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID); Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; Catholics for Choice; Center for Women’s Global Leadership READ MORE
MY #BLACKPROTEST
The stories in this volume describe contemporary Poland mostly from the perspective of medium-size cities and small towns. The authors, one of whom is a man, present the moment when they questioned the ordinary scheme of everyday life, the moment when the personal became political. Rebellion was born. Poland as seen by the contributors to this book is, above all, a land of hypocrisy. The Black Protest was a unique time when this hypocrisy was READ MORE
Universal Periodic Review of Poland – statement for the 36th session of Human Rights Council
This statement is made on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning. Poland has yet failed to implement any of the recommendations it accepted pertaining to sexual and reproductive health from the previous Cycles. The situation is getting worse each year because of Polish authorities’ activity and abandonment. First, Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. However, hospitals’ arbitrary and unlawful procedures, abusive performance of conscientious objection, lack of READ MORE
Support the HRC36 Joint NGO statement on safe and legal abortion
In support of the September 28 Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion, Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights and Ipas have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the upcoming 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The session runs from Sept. 11-29, and the most suitable Council agenda item for the statement would appear to be the general debate on the implementation of READ MORE
Case P. and S. versus Poland
Case P. and S. versus Poland Another case is P. and S. versus Poland, decided by the Court in 2012. It concerned the case of a teenager who got pregnant as a result of sexual violence. She was 14 years old at that time, therefore the pregnancy came from a criminal act (sexual intercourse with a person under 15 years of age is a criminal act regardless of the age of the perpetrator). Despite the READ MORE
Case R.R. versus Poland
Case R.R. versus Poland The second Polish case, decided by the Court in 2011, was R.R. versus Poland. It concerned a woman who found out during her pregnancy that there was a risk that her foetus suffered from a serious genetic defect (Turner syndrome). Although the Family Planning Act indicates the necessity of only a high probability of foetus malformation, diagnostics in this condition could offer a certainty as to whether or not the foetus READ MORE
Case Tysiąc versus Poland
Case Tysiąc versus Poland The first case is Tysiąc versus Poland. It concerned a woman suffering from a serious eyes condition who became pregnant. Pregnancy increased the risk of substantial impairment of her vision, which would intensify her already identified disability. However, doctors could not agree as to whether the woman’s condition and the damaging for her vision influence of pregnancy constitute circumstances that entitle her to legal termination of pregnancy according to the provisions READ MORE
International Convening on conscientious objection in Urugway
Montevideo, August 4, 2017─Fifty experts from 20 countries in Africa, the Americas and Europe, among them executive director and lawyer of Federation, gathered at the first international convening on conscientious objection to abortion have concluded that the refusal to provide legal abortion services is hurting women all over the world and must be tackled. The meeting, co-hosted by Mujer y Salud en Uruguay (MYSU) and the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC), featured policymakers, academics, health READ MORE
Statement of the Federation and SRI for Human Rights Council
Today on 34th session of the Human Rights Council Federation for Women and Family Planning, in collaboration with Sexual Rights Initiative, provided a statement on the on the Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. Read Krystyna Kacpura’s, director of Federation for Women and Family Planning, statement here.
Polish Government to Limit Access to the Morning-After Pill
The Polish government wants to restrict access to emergency contraception. A governmental draft law approved on Tuesday, 14 February 2017 states that hormonal contraceptives will be available on prescription only, should the draft bill be discussed and adopted by the parliament. Since 2015, based on a decision of the European Commission, the morning-after pill ellaOne has been available over the counter all over the country. Research conducted by Millward Brown among pharmacists shows that 84 READ MORE
Joint statement on the planned restrictions on the availability of emergency contraception in Poland
ASTRA together with ASTRA Youth, as part of coalition of civil society organizations working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights – You Act, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality and the European Consortium for Emergency Contraception, sent a letter to the representatives of the European Commission, to voice our concern on the current developments in Poland with regards to women and girls’ reproductive health and rights. The Polish Minister of Health recently announced the plan READ MORE
The statement of the Federation for UN Human Rights Committee
Today on 118 th session of the UN Human Rights Committe Federation for Women and Family Planning provided a statement on the realisation of reproductive rights in Poland. Read Krystyna Kacpura’s, director of Federation for Women and Family Planning, statement here.
Shadow Report available on UN website
Alternative Report to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is already available on United Nation’s webiste. Report submitted by the Polish informal coalition for the CCPR for consideration of the UN Human Rights Committee was prepared by Federation for Women and Family Planning and other organizations such as: Polish Society of Antidiscrimination Law (coordinator of the report works) TUS Foundation Trans-Fuzja Foundation Open Republic – Association against anti-Semitism and xenophobia Campaign Against Homophobia READ MORE
“Reproductive Rights in Poland”
This report on the monitoring of reproductive rights in Poland was created in the framework of the project financed by the European Commission and realised by the Federation for Women and Family Planning, entitled Proactive monitoring of women’s reproductive rights as a part of human rights in Poland. The report provides a comprehensive overview of reproductive rights in Poland. It deals with the legal issues involved, and the analysis of the Polish legal regulations on READ MORE
“Twenty years of anti-abortion law in Poland”
The aim of this report is to draw attention to the failure in implementation and fictional character of the law remaining in force for over two decades. The law which contradicts the secular nature of a democratic state. “Twenty years of anti-abortion law in Poland” – report in PDF Twenty years is enough to provide an overview of social, legal and health impact of the Act. We will try to answer the question whether the READ MORE