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

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

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

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

“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

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