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
Category: Monitoring & advocacy
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
“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
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