Category: News

Debate on the findings of the CEDAW Committee in relation to Poland. A debate was held in the European Parliament on the findings of the CEDAW Committee in relation to the Polish abortion law. FEDERA was involved in advocacy in organising the debate. Right to Contraception Coalition FEDERA participated in the press conference of the Right to Contraception Coalition. FEDERA was represented by Ms Antonina Lewandowska – national advocacy coordinator. During the event, she presented READ MORE

Opening of the FEDERA Health Centre On 17 September 2024, the grand opening of the FEDERA Health Centre – FEDERA’s largest project – took place. It is the first medical facility in Poland created to showcase best practices in the medical field. It is a place where reproductive rights are approached comprehensively, guided by empathy, the latest evidence-based medicine and putting women’s wellbeing at the centre. The FEDERA Health Centre will host specialists in gynaecology, READ MORE

Changes to the ‘pregnancy register’. The Ministry of Health has published a draft amendment to the regulation on the Medical Information System, commonly known as the ‘pregnancy register’. From 2022 Doctors are obliged to include information about a patient’s pregnancy in it. According to the draft regulation, currently, the entry of the information regarding pregnancy in the Medical Information System will take place at the request of the Patient. FEDERA views this change positively, which READ MORE

FEDERA’S ADVOCACY SUCCESSES: The vice-president of FEDERA’s board of directors, Kamila Ferenc, an attorney, became a consultant to the Special Commission to consider draft laws on the right to abortion. The first hospital in Poland was fined for refusing to perform a statutory abortion. In the pregnancy of a 41-year-old female patient, fetal abnormalities were detected, confirmed by prenatal tests. The patient had approached the Pabianice Medical Centre with a written request for an abortion READ MORE

FEDERA Joins the Ministerial Women’s Health Panel At the beginning of May, we were invited to join the ministerial team dedicated to improving women’s health security. The objective of the team’s work is to develop proposals for actions to enhance women’s health security, with particular emphasis on reproductive health and perinatal care. It consists of activists, medical professionals, and legal experts who specialise in both women’s rights and healthcare services. FEDERA will be represented on READ MORE

Recent SRHR developments in Poland President of Poland Andrzej Duda vetoed an amendment to the Pharmaceutical Law passed by Parliament, which removed the requirement to obtain a prescription for emergency contraception. In response, the Ministry of Health created a pilot programme under which it will be possible to obtain emergency contraception through a pharmaceutical prescription. The Sejm, in its first reading, referred 4 bills concerning the termination of pregnancy to the Special Committee for further READ MORE

A lot happened in 2023 – from the daily fight for every person who sought support from us, to the victory of FEDERA’s lawyers in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. And all this in the shadow of elections and changes on the political scene that affect the lives of women in Poland, and therefore also our work.  Last year, abortion was one of the main topics discussed in public space. In June, READ MORE

Premiere of the Contraception Policy Atlas 2024The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) has presented the latest edition of the Contraception Policy Atlas, a pan-European ranking of countries in terms of access to contraception. This year, the expert panel of the Atlas included Federa’s national advocacy coordinator, Antonina Lewandowska. Poland once again achieved the worst score in Europe. Contraception is easier to obtain even in authoritarian countries such as Russia and Belarus. READ MORE

IMPORTANT NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS On 13 December 2023, a new government, formed by the parties of the recent democratic opposition, was sworn in. FEDERA is open to cooperating with the new Ministry of Health, Education, Equality and others. Two bills on abortion have been tabled in parliament. The first legalizes abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy, while the second decriminalizes abortion. Based on media reports, one cannot be sure that these projects READ MORE

SRHR-RELATED NEWS IN POLAND Case of Dorota from Nowy Targ At the end of May, a woman named Dorota died in the hospital as a result of refusal of live saving abortion care. She was admitted to a hospital in the town of Nowy Targ on 21 May when her waters broke in the fifth month of pregnancy. She wasn’t informed that the probability of keeping the pregnancy is minimal and brings enormous risk for READ MORE

In April we unveiled the transformation of our brand. We’ve moved closer to the purpose that guides us to share with clarity to the world why we do what we do. With the help of professional agency FEDERA has developed a new sign and visual identity.  Our slogan is “Always on your side” and it reflects the essence of our work. We stand up for the survivors, all vulnerable persons and those who fight for READ MORE

In the recent months in Poland, around 93 local councils in around 14 districts (voivodships) in Poland have adopted anti-LGBTI statements or resolutions. These resolutions are incompatible with the Polish Constitution and basic standards of the international human rights law Poland has undertaken to respect. Their language is scandalous: the resolutions speak of “stopping of the gender and LGBT ideology”, “aggressive homosexual propaganda”, “stopping homoterror and sexualisation of social life”. e resolutions drive fear, contempt READ MORE

September 28 is a globally recognized day that frames campaign activities undertaken by advocates around the world to strengthen an international movement for legal and safe abortion. This year, WGNRR, the International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion, Ipas Alliance, Campaña 28 de Septiembre LAC and many more partners and allies are joining efforts and launching a united theme “Normalizing abortion: It’s part of our lives”. The Federation for Women and Family Planning always READ MORE

Fundamentalists led by activist Kaja Godek forced the Social Policy and Family Committee to debate the repressive “Stop abortion” bill  on Monday (2.07.2018) at 4 pm. Let us recall that this draft law would penalize abortions in case of foetal impairment, which now make up 95% of all legal abortions performed in the Polish hospitals. This decision comes as a surprise, because the committee declared not to deal with this draft law in the foreseeable READ MORE

In April and May pro-choice billboards with the slogan “Women in Poland demand legal abortion” have appeared in different cities and towns across Poland. This campaign was organised by an informal women’s group, which managed to gather financial means in a crowdfunding campaign. The organizers and supporters wished to protest with these billboards against manipulative messages of the anti-abortion fundamentalists and to make their voice in the public sphere more distinctive. The billboards were meant READ MORE

Since 2015 when the Law and Justice Party has come to power, atmosphere around women’s rights and freedoms, including the right to abortion, is very tense. In January 2018, the MP referred a draft law banning abortion in case of foetal impairment to the committee for a further discussion. Following massive protests, the decision makers seemed to put “Stop abortion” into “a legislative freezer”.  The anti-choice group continued to put pressure on the politicians with READ MORE

The worsening state of SRHR in Poland has brought multiple reactions from international human rights bodies. Please below find here the most crucial observations and recommendations. Letter of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Poland, the Commissioner refers to recent developments affecting the independence of the judiciary; women’s access to sexual and reproductive rights; the deteriorating  environment for NGOs active in the READ MORE

On November, 30 the “Stop Abortion” Civic Committee has tabled 830 000 signatures under the bill that would ban abortion in one of the three cases in which abortion is allowed according to the Bill of 1993. The organisers of the campaign with a strong and active support of the Polish Episcopate and parishes all over the country  have been widespreading myths about how and when abortion is performed referring to numbers that deny the reality. READ MORE

The Polish Bureau of Research (BAS) has positively evaluated a draft law that would introduce conscience clause for pharmacists and owners of drug stores. According to the law elaborated and delivered by the Federation of Polish Catholic Pharmacists they will have rights  1) to refuse to sell drugs should they be incompatible with their conscience and 2) not to order such drugs. In practice, only procreation-related medicines are in contradiction to conscience clause. Therefore, the READ MORE

The European Parliament is calling on Poland to address the current restrictions to the independence of the judiciary, freedom of assembly, sexual and reproductive rights, and denial of asylum-seekers’ access to the Polish territory. The Parliament adopted a resolution that highlights the further deterioration of the situation in Poland since the previous European Parliament resolution on these issues in September last year. The resolution, which was proposed by GUE/NGL and other parliamentary groups (EPP, S&D, READ MORE

Doctors for Women (Lekarze Kobietom) is an informal initiative that unites doctors from all across Poland who want to help women access emergency contraception. Created as a response to Ministry of Health decision to reinstate the requirement for doctor’s prescription for emergency contraception the initiative aims to fill the wide gap of reproductive health needs. Emergency contraception was available over the counter for two years – since April 2015, as result of the C(2015)51 ruling READ MORE

Poland remains to be at forefront of battle over women’s rights and the right to a safe and legal abortion. In recent months, despite the success of the “Black Protest” in the last year we are witnessing attempts to further restrict the current, already very strict, legislation. However, this time the anti-choice groups, with clear and vocal support from the Catholic Church, are not aiming for a total ban of abortion or criminalizing women for READ MORE

The situation of women’s rights in Poland continues to deteriorate. In the recent months we have witnessed few attempts to further restrictions the current law on abortion. At this moment there are three legal initiatives aimed to ban abortion due to fetal malformation: civic initiative undertaken by fanatic anti abortion organization willing to propose a draft seeking to limit an access to abortion services, draft legislation submitted by a group of 100 right wing MPs READ MORE

On June 23rd the Polish President Andrzej Duda approved legislation that will end prescription-free access to emergency contraception. The new law comes into effect next month and will requite women wishing to obtain a prescription for the morning after pill to visit a doctor, either at a public or private facility. On May 25th the Polish Government voted in favour of limiting access to emergency contraception as a result of the proposal put forward by READ MORE

Ordo Iuris, a far right‐wing Polish organisation that wants to jail women for having abortion has just been appointed the consultative status to the Economic and Social Council in the UN! We strangly recommend to sign petition to protest against this decision of the ECOSOC today. Sign the petition now.

On 9 May 2017 the government of Poland presented a report in front of the UN Human Rights Council within the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) regarding the observance of human rights in Poland and the realization of i.a. the Universal Human Rights Declaration. During the 27th session of the UPR as many as five states (Slovenia, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) recommended that Poland guarantees access to safe and legal abortion. Additionally, Slovenia recommended that READ MORE

The Great Coalition for Equality and Choice was established as a reaction to the offensive of anti-women groups. The draft regulations directly threatening the life and health of women, restricting access to emergency contraception, frightening doctors in their work places, the shocking billboard campaigns, the fight against comprehensive sexuality education, as well as the systemic weakening of the protection of women against domestic violence. These facts call for our active and organized resistance. The need READ MORE

Following last October’s Black Protest and as part of the International Women’s Strike in over 80 Polish cities women took to the streets to protest against violating their rights. Polish women demanded among others: access to safe and legal abortion, free modern contraception including over-the-counter emergency contraception, and to the newest generation of prenatal testing, state-subsidized in vitro fertilization, and maintenance of the postnatal care standards. The final manifestation in the center of Warsaw, preceded READ MORE

English translation of the Federation’s annual report for 2016 is available online here.

On 19th of November Federa held its 25 Year Anniversary Ceremony. It was an occassion to, both, sum up 25 years of fight for women’s rights in Poland and work on strategies for the future. Anniversary began with performative reading based on everyday work in Federa. After artistic part of a gala, Agnieszka Graff, translator, activist and publicist opened a floor for a debate dedicated to 25 years of defending reproductive rights in Poland. Invited READ MORE

The Guttmacher Institute is a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States and globally. In May 2016 Guttmacher Institute developed a factsheet that aims to raise awareness about women’s and girl’s rights to safe and legal abortion. Click here to access the factsheet.

They call us Nazis and say that we are no better than Hitler because we think a woman should have be able to choose whether she gives birth to a seriously sick child – but we are used to such comparisons. They say these things about us because they are frightened. The government of Poland did not expect such huge protests against its proposed ban on abortion. In the last week, 7 million women were READ MORE

On Friday, September 23rd, the Polish Sejm sent to further proceedings draft legislation aiming to introduce a total ban on abortion and criminalize women for terminating pregnancies with up to 5 years of prison. Women and doctors could face prison if convicted of causing what the proposed bill called “death of a conceived child”. Moreover doctors would be discouraged from doing prenatal testing, particularly if that carried the risk of miscarriage. Major mobilization among Polish READ MORE

With 352 votes the Polish Parliament has now officialy DISMISSED the anti-abortion civic bill. 58 MP were in favour of further proceedings, 18 abstained from vote. Beata Szydło, Polish Prime Minister, announced a future bill that will support all women experiencing so called “difficult pregnancies”. She also announced the creation of a programme of support for families raising children with disabilities. Yesterday the ruling Law and Justice party also announced their readiness to start working READ MORE

On Thursday, September 22nd, Polish members of Parliament debated on two civic proposals of law concerning abortion. The “Stop Abortion” initiative assumes a complete prohibition of abortion with no exception. Additionally it proposes criminalization of women who committed abortion illegally up to five years. The project excludes pre-natal tests and sexuality education. It equals women’s right to health with the rights of embryos. Polish women will be forced to give birth even if they are READ MORE

The Polish Parliament will today debate two bills concerning access to legal and safe abortion one aiming to implement a total ban on abortion and the other one introducing a liberalization of the current law. ASTRA, ASTRA Youth and CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality have prepared this statement to draw attention on the stand of Polish government complying with its human rights obligations towards the women of Poland. This statement was presented to Members of READ MORE

On 18th of September thousands gathered outside the national parliament in Warsaw to protest against proposed stricter abortion law. Demonstration was organized by women’s initiatives and organizations, including Federation for Women and Family Planning. Both, the “Stop Abortion” draft law and Save Women draft law, will be debated in polish parliament next Thursday (22nd September).

As Poland’s rightwing ruling party seeks to tighten an already restrictive abortion law, there is a growing solidarity among women in the struggle for our reproductive rights. In my desk drawer, I have the signatures of 1,500 Polish women who support liberalising our country’s abortion law, which bans the procedure except in cases of rape, incest, foetal anomalies, or when the pregnant woman’s life is in danger. The signatures arrived too late – the day READ MORE

UN agencies supporting women’s rights have been asked today to send “a strong signal” to governments around the world by passing a resolution at this year’s UN General Assembly in September to make International Safe Abortion Day an official UN day. An Open Letter was sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the heads of UN Women, UN Development Programme, World Health Organization, UN Population Fund, UN Children’s Fund, UNAIDS, and UNESCO today. “It is READ MORE

A draft seeking to liberalise Poland’s abortion laws prepared by the “Save the Women” Legislative Initiative Committee reached the Sejm (lower house) on 4th of August. The committee collected 215 000 signatures under the draft. Few weeks ago a citizen’s anti-abortion bill completely banning abortion and making it punishable by a prison term reached the Sejm. Both draft laws will be debated in polish parliament in autumn. As the radical, right-wing ruling party Law and READ MORE