FEDERA’S STATEMENT AT THE 54TH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Human Rights Council 54th session of the Human Rights Council September 2023 Item 3: General Debate Thank you, President. I make this statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland. With the upcoming parliamentary elections in Poland we reiterate the imperative of decriminalisation and legalisation of access to abortion in Poland to save lives and preserve the health of women, girls and pregnant persons. The criminalisation of abortion is taking READ MORE

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

POLICE INTERVENTION IN THE CASE OF JOANNA WHO TOOK ABORTION PILLS

This case constitutes yet another episode of Poland’s anti-abortion obsession as innocent women fell victim to the criminalisation of abortion in Poland. The story was made public by Fakty TVN on 18th July 2023. In April of this year Joanna took an abortion pill. She was not feeling well so she called her psychiatrist and told about her abortion. The doctor then called the police without informing Joanna of doing so. Joanna was found at 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

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

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

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

SRHR AND FEDERA OVERVIEW – OCTOBER 2022

Relevant SRHR developments in Poland Justyna Wydrzyńska court case On October 2022, the third! hearing of abortion activist Justyna Wydrzyńska was adjourned by the Praga District Court in Warsaw. The case was not heard because the witness of accusation failed to appear in court yet another time. Justyna is charged with helping in abortion on the basis of Article 152.2 of the Polish Penal Code, and possession of unauthorized drugs with the aim of introducing 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 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

FEDERA’S STATEMENT ON THE CASE OF MARINA, WHO HAD A STILLBIRTH AT 33 WEEKS PREGNANT

Marina Jaworska, a Ukrainian who has been living in Poland for two years, was 17 weeks pregnant. During the ultrasound examination, the doctor – a well-known Warsaw gynecologist – told her that she would most likely give birth to a girl. He did not mention the fact that the fetus did not have a skull, which is called acrania. The defect was diagnosed by another gynecologist, it was the 30th week of pregnancy. At this READ MORE

FEDERA’S STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF MARTA, WHO DIED IN A KATOWICE HOSPITAL

Marta was admitted to a hospital in Katowice, Silesian Voivodeship in the 20th week of her longed-for pregnancy, with abdominal pain. Three days later, she was dead. Since admission, indicators reflecting the level of inflammation in her body began to drastically exceed the norm. She was given an antibiotic. Later, Marta also complained of chills and feeling cold, but she was given sedatives. The fetus died, but it was not decided to pharmacologically accelerate the READ MORE

SRHR IN POLAND OVERVIEW – AUGUST 2022

RELEVANT SRHR DEVELOPMENTS IN POLAND Official abortion statistics for 2021 The Ministry of Health published official abortion statistics according which only 107 abortions were carried out in Poland in 2021 (compared to 1076 In 2020). These extremely low abortion statistics are the consequence of the Constitutional Tribunal’s ruling of 22 October 2020 banning abortion on the grounds of foetal defects which entered into force on 27 January 2021. Out of 107 abortions carried out in 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

NEW WHO ABORTION CARE GUIDELINE IS OUT

The new WHO Abortion Care Guideline is out. The new guideline updates the WHO’s last version issued in 2012. Drawing on the latest scientific evidence and data, the guideline provides recommendations on abortion law and policy approaches, clinical management, and service delivery for states and health systems to follow. 

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

SRHR IN POLAND OVERVIEW – SECOND HALF OF 2021

Last week, the Polish Minister of Health Andrzej Niedzielski issued a draft ministerial ordinance that – if passed – would digitalize all patients’ data in a system administrated by the Minister himself. The System of Medical Information to include details regarding pregnancy and any “foreign objects inserted into the body”, including IUDs and contraceptive implants. The idea quickly gained the name “national pregnancy register” in Poland, where activists call for alarm over the extremely disturbing READ MORE

DEATH TOLL OF ANTI-ABORTION LAW IN POLAND

On 29 October 2021 attorney J. Budzowska, who deals with medical error cases announced the death of 30 years old woman, Izabela. 22 weeks’ pregnant woman was said to have been taken to the hospital with an amenorrhea (lack of amniotic fluid). The woman was married and had one daughter. According to the information provided by the attorney, the doctors were to wait for the foetus to die and the woman died shortly after 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

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

SRHR IN POLAND OVERVIEW – MAY 2021

June 4 — On 13 May the parliamentary session of the Parliamentary Group on Human Rights and Sexual and Reproductive Rights led by the MPs from Left wing party has been held in the Polish Sejm. The doctors, representatives of organizations helping women (including the Federation for Women and Family Planning and Abortion Dream Team) and activists have been sharing how their work has changed and what lived consequences the decision of the flawed Constitutional READ MORE

SRHR IN POLAND OVERVIEW – JANUARY-APRIL 2021

April 30 — Since 27 January 2021, following the entry into force of the decision of the illegitimate Polish Constitutional Tribunal (case no. K 1/20) (CT), abortion is illegal in Poland, with exceptions of the pregnancy being a result of rape or incest, or a threat to the woman’s life or health. Access to abortion and other SRHR after the decision of the illegitimate CT A ban on abortion obviously does not mean that Polish 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

POLAND INTRODUCES A NEARLY-TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION

January 27, 2021 – Just before midnight, the abortion-banning “ruling” of Polish Constitutional Tribunal was published in Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland. As of this day, abortion is illegal in Poland, with exceptions of the pregnancy being a result of rape or incest, or a threat to the woman’s life or health. Poland has already had one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. The now-removed premise of Polish abortion READ MORE

POLISH CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL PUBLISHES JUSTIFICATION FOR THE ABORTION-BANNING RULING

January 27, 2021 – On Wednesday evening, Polish Constitutional Tribunal published a justification of the abortion-banning “ruling” issued on October 22, 2020. For the ban to come to life, the “ruling” still has to officially be published in Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland. Although this has not happened yet, governmental officials have already announced that the act will be published later today (Jan 27). “Ruling” of the Constitutional Tribunal found abortion on 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

MASTERS OF CHAOS – FOLLOW UP AFTER (NO) PUBLICATION OF A (NON-)JUDGEMENT OF THE (NON-)CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL

November 23 — On October 22, the Polish “Constitutional Tribunal” (CT) issued a “ruling” (K 1/20) finding abortion on the grounds of “severe and irreversible fetal defect or incurable illness that threatens the fetus’ life” unconstitutional. The ruling has not yet entered into force because it has not been published in the Polish Journal of Laws and this is not clear if/when it will happen because of the chaos the government is immersed in. From 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

POLAND HAS SLAMMED DOOR SHUT ON LEGAL AND SAFE ABORTIONS

Poland has slammed door shut on legal and safe abortions – UN experts  GENEVA (27 October 2020) – “Poland has decided to sacrifice women’s human right to safe and legal health services for termination of pregnancy on account of protection of the right to life of the unborn in violation of its international human rights obligations,” independent human rights experts* have said in response to the ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court to ban abortions READ MORE

POLISH CONSTITUTIONAL TRIBUNAL RULES TO BAN ABORTION IN THE COUNTRY

  On October 22, Polish “Constitutional Tribunal” (CT) issued a “ruling” (K 1/20) finding abortion on the grounds of “severe and irreversible fetal defect or incurable illness that threatens the fetus’ life” unconstitutional. The ruling has not yet entered into force which will happen after its publication in the Polish Journal of Laws[1]. Independent monitors and non-governmental organization’s representatives were not allowed into the building despite numerous requests to observe the proceedings. Poland has already READ MORE

POLITICISED TRIBUNAL WILL DECIDE ON THE MOST OFTEN NEEDED GROUND FOR LEGAL ABORTION IN POLAND

The Constitutional Tribunal on the session on 22 October 2020[1] will decide on the compliance with the Constitution[2] of the abortion on the grounds of the high probability of a severe and irreversible foetal defect or incurable illness that threatens the foetus’s life (art. 4a § 1 pt. 2 and art. 4a §2 first sentence of the Family Planning, Human Embryo Protection and Conditions of Permissibility of Abortion Act of 7 January 1993[3]). Initially, the READ MORE