The time has come to once again speak up for women living in Poland.
Politicians want to take away the remains of our already limited rights. The
League for Polish Families (LPR) has presented a proposal to change the
Constitution of the Polish Republic, aiming to protect human life from the
moment of conception. This means that abortion will become illegal in almost
every, even the most dramatic, situation.

The law currently in force is the Law on family planning, the protection of
the human foetus and the conditions allowing termination of pregnancy of
1993, amended in 1997, which allows termination of pregnancy in only three
situations: when the life or health of the woman is threatened, when we are
dealing with genetic defects or serious incurable diseases of the foetus or
when the pregnancy is a result of crime (e.g. rape, incest). However the
general mindset arising from the ban on abortion means that in practice even
legal abortions are not carried out. Many women have lost their health due
to this and some have paid with their lives due to the hypocrisy of the
doctors and politicians.

The draft law of LPR could mean that we begin to treat the current law as a
compromise. We cannot agree to this. The ban on abortion is in violation of
the rights of women to planned parenthood and is at variance with human
rights and European standards. It is also in essence ineffective. Official
data indicates that there are approximately 150 abortions annually (sic!),
whilst independent research indicates that the number of illegal abortions
is anything from 80,000 to 200,000. It is the poor majority who cannot
afford a backstreet abortion that the ban affects the most.

As a result of the refusal to carry out a legal abortion and refusal to
carry out genetic prenatal testing, the life and health of women in Poland
is under threat. New cases against Poland are being taken to the European
Tribunal of Human Rights. The first cases of deaths amongst women who were
refused treatment and medical aid due to their pregnancy are dark shadows
over the history of women?s rights in Poland.

At the same time the majority of Polish citizens, both male and female,
accepts termination of pregnancy, not only due to a threat to the health or
life of the woman or foetus and the case of when the pregnancy is a result
of crime, but also due to social reasons. However, this is of no importance
because the politicians in Poland together with some doctors have taken
control of the life and health of women, refusing them even the right to
decide about their own bodies.

In this situation backstreet abortions in Poland are big business. Abortion
is available for 2000 ? 3000 zlotys (500 ? 750 euros) in private surgeries,
often carried out by the same doctor who refused to carry out the abortion
in the hospital. The tablet RU-486 is also available on the black market.
Health, dignity and freedom in Poland cost 750 euros. Not many women can
afford that.
The increasing number of cases of abandoned babies is clearly a result of
the law which forces women to give birth, who for personal and/or economic
reasons cannot decide to have a child.

The problem of the extremely bad situation of Polish women, who cannot have
a legal abortion was raised by the United Nations Committee for Human Rights
in its observations and recommendations for Poland in October 2004 as well
as the EU report on human rights in the European Union, prepared by Network
Experts in 2004 and 2005.

In the current situation, which is already drastic enough, we are dealing
with yet another proposal to restrict the law on abortion, a proposal to
finally, constitutionally, enslave women, in the name of political
pre-election games.

As women, as people, as citizens, both male and female, we cannot agree to
this.
We appeal to all those for whom women?s rights are important to help and
support our actions to preventing the amendment of the Constitution of the
Republic of Poland aimed at the protection of life from conception.

We also appeal for support for the initiative to liberalize the law on
termination of pregnancy.
Our obligation is to stand up for the health and life of women.

As a sign of protest we have decided to organize a series of actions
including a march under the slogan

NO TO WOMEN’S HELL. WE DEMAND LEGAL ABORTION!

– On 3 November 2006 there will be a Tribunal for the Right to Choose at
which the history of women who are victims of the restrictive abortion law
in Poland will be read out. We will also present proposals for legal
solutions which would ensure women the right to planned parenthood.

– On 4 November 2006 there will be a national demonstration against the
changes in the constitution. The demonstration begins on plac Defilad at
12:00 in Warsaw.

We are counting on support and help. We appeal for solidarity pickets and
marches as well as contacting the Polish media about them. Please send
protest letters to the president and prime minister of Poland. Letters of
support will be read out at our demonstration. We need your support.

Polish media:

Gazeta Wyborcza: swiat agora.pl; sekretariat.naczelnych agora.pl;
obcasy-p agora.pl

Rzeczpospolita: J.Haszczynski rzeczpospolita.pl; M.Solecka rzeczpospolita.pl

Dziennik: dziennik dziennik.pl

Polityka: polityka polityka.pl

Polish Press Agency: A.Kurkus pap.pl; A.Malecka pap.pl

Polish authorities:

President of the Republic of Poland: listy prezydent.pl

Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, ul. Wiejska 10, 00-902 Warszawa

Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland: cirinfo kprm.gov.pl

Organizers of the protest:

Committee for the Aid and Defence of Victimised Workers

Federation for Women and Family Planning

8 March Women’s Alliance

Association Pro-Femina

Lesbians Alliance

Independent Trade Union “August’80”

Polish Labour Party

Contact: pro-choice4 wp.pl

magostr o2.pl

tel : +48 22 696053595 (Katarzyna Bratkowska)

tel : +48 22 660838005 (Ewa D?browska-Szulc)

We are protesting against the attempt of yet another attack
On the health, life and rights of women living in Poland!
Enough hypocrisy! We demand rights!