PiS supports the rejection of the civil bill on safe termination of pregnancy in first reading. KO wants to refer him to further work in the committee and announces amendments. The left wing supports the project and calls for an immediate move to second reading.
MEPs will decide the fate of the project in the voting bloc on Thursday.
Long and sharp discussion
On Wednesday, the first reading of the citizens’ bill on safe termination of pregnancy and other reproductive rights began at 10:50 p.m., discussion ended after two hours, approximately 1 am.
The draft was submitted to the Sejm by the committee of the “Legal Abortion Without Compromise” legislative initiative. It presupposes, inter alia, the right to terminate the pregnancy until the 12th week and beyond – when the pregnancy poses a threat to a woman’s life or physical or mental health, when the results of prenatal diagnosis or other medical indications indicate that there are developmental or genetic abnormalities of the fetus, and when the pregnancy is the result of a prohibited act that is the subject of a declaration by a pregnant person.
Under the draft, termination of pregnancy would be reimbursed by the National Health Fund. The decision to terminate the pregnancy can be made by a person over the age of 13. In the case of a minor under the age of 13 who expresses the will to terminate the pregnancy, the consent of the legal guardian is also required or, if the guardian does not express this, the consent of the guardianship judge. In addition, the project guarantees the right to information, education and guidance, allowing the full realization of the right to conscious parenthood. It abolishes the criminal record of doctors and abortion assistants and introduces additional rules regarding the conscience clause to eliminate the phenomenon of abuse of the clause at the expense of patients’ rights.
†This act of ours is just a recovery program”
Presenting the project, National Women’s Strike leader Marta Lempart emphasized that it is a recovery program, introducing standards applicable in civilized countries and containing regulations based on the science of medicine.
I come to you with a bill that changes the law to meet European and global standards for protecting women’s life and health. I am coming up with a bill that will adapt Polish law to the reality we all live in, our reality and your reality, including your daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and friends
– she said.
I am coming up with a bill whose regulation is only based on hard data that is based only on facts. A law based on what it should be based on: the science of medicine. I am coming up with a bill that is not only in accordance with the Constitution, but also removes from lawful circulation unconstitutional, contrary to science and contrary to European and global standards
– she added.
The project, Lempart continued, removes “the effects of the recent non-constitutional activities of Ms. magister (Julia-PAP) Przyłębska’s team, sitting in the former Constitutional Tribunal building.”
This law of ours is just a recovery program, one of many that we need. This is a recovery program in the field of protecting people’s health in Poland. Introduces a substantive, scientific and legal standard for protecting women’s health in access to medical services such as abortion
emphasized Lempart.
She stated that theoretically there is a law in Poland to save the life and health of pregnant women, guaranteeing them an abortion in case of threat to their health and life.
How does it work in current anti-abortion practice? They found out: Mrs. Izabela from Pszczyna, Mrs. Agnieszka from Częstochowa. How it works? Women who end up in hospitals where fear paralyzes doctors and who miraculously find out for themselves
– she said.
How it works? People in Poland who are not pregnant know it first. We have the lowest birth rate since World War II because women know the dangers of this. let’s fix it
– she announced.
PiS rejects the bill
Law and Justice Deputy Anna Milczanowska argued in the debate that Law and Justice is committed to safety and compliance with “the rights of every person”.
That’s why the PiS club is vehemently against this project as a whole. We also point out that it violates the right to life, freedom of conscience and expression, and parental authority.
– she said. She reports that PiS is in favor of rejecting the proposal at first reading.
Milczanowska criticized, among other things, a provision under which a decision to terminate pregnancy can be taken by a person over 13 years of age.
This is frightening – at a time when parental consent is required for simple medical or even hygienic examinations, the project’s authors want to impose complete freedom on abortions for 13-year-olds. Yes, it is no accident that I said + impose +, because instead of real support, which is needed in such difficult matters, they offer illusory, supposedly simple solutions that involve impossible wounds or even tragedies
– rated the PiS deputy. She also referred negatively to the solution aimed at limiting the use of the so-called conscience clause by doctors.
The project was supported by members of the Civic Coalition: Barbara Nowacka and Monika Wielichowska.
This project is the opposition of Polish women and Poles to the dishonesty sponsored by Kaczyński, Ziobro, Przyłębska and all those who today on the right are so hypocritical that they talk about human rights and the protection of women
– said Nowacka, referring to Milczanowska’s speech.
She accused PiS politicians of scaring Polish women into having children.
It is because of you that young girls say: we are afraid of getting pregnant in Poland, because we will not find help, support and safety here. You are in charge of the dramas, such as Ms. Izabela from Pszczyna, and the citizenship project is the voice of women and men for normality in Poland
– noted Nowacka.
Both, together with Wielichowska, requested that the project be referred for further work in the Social Policy and Family Committee. Wielichowska announced that if this happened, the KO club would table amendments so that its solutions would move closer to the “Women’s Rights Package”, which the Civic Platform board passed in February last year. The package includes the right to legal abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, provided the patient consults a doctor and psychologist. It also provides reimbursement for in vitro fertilization, contraception and sex education.
Bożena Żelazowska, representative of the Polish-PSL coalition, emphasized the need to introduce a package of laws that “would provide mothers facing a dramatic decision with appropriate and long-term state support, ensuring the care of a sick child and a dignified to live”.
As the Koalicja Polska-PSL club, we will uphold the right to protection and respect for human life in all its dimensions. However, we cannot fight to protect begotten life and forget its next phases at the same time
she declared. She also stressed the need to reach a “wise compromise”. She announced that there will be no discipline in voting on this project in the KP-PSL club.
Katarzyna Kotula, on behalf of the Lewica club, emphasized that Poland is the only major country in Europe with a complete ban on abortion.
Women’s health and safety have no political affiliation, they have no religion and they have no worldview, because women’s health and safety is the foundation. Trust women and give them the right to decide their motherhood
– she appealed. She stressed that the left was, is and will be for the legal possibility of abortion. She announced that the left would support this project and at the same time tabled a motion for an immediate move to second reading because – as she emphasized – “Polish women can’t wait”.
Member of Parliament Joanna Mucha from Poland 2050 announced that in the Polish circle of 2050 everyone will vote according to their own conviction.
Some will vote in favor of passing the law for further work – although they disagree with the wording of the law today – but they will do it out of respect for the citizens’ initiative
– she emphasized. She proposed to return to the state ahead of the October 2021 Constitutional Court ruling and – after the opposition won the elections – to organize a citizens’ assembly, which would be tasked with asking questions for the referendum on abortion.
All these years we have tried to make this decision differently and we have not succeeded. Let’s keep it in a referendum
– she appealed.
Joanna Senyszyn from the PPP circle stated that her circle fully supports the project. She emphasized that it is about the broader rights of women and human rights; and the only effect of the enactment of the currently binding law is the flourishing of the abortion ground.
Grzegorz Braun of the Confederacy judged the project “monstrous and grotesque”; tabled a motion to be rejected at first reading.
At the end of the debate, after a series of questions, the floor was taken by another representative of the “Legal abortion without compromise” committee, Natalia Broniarczyk, who is engaged in helping women who need abortions.
As + Abortion Without Borders + we help at least 90 people every day during a pharmacological abortion. Every day at least four people go to a foreign clinic for an abortion with our help. Last year alone, we spent more than PLN 1.5 million on abortion procedures for those who cannot afford it. And it wasn’t until 2021 that the total number of people who had an abortion with us was 34,094. Even now, after midnight, they have an abortion
– argued Broniarczyk.
According to her, the current 1993 law on family planning, protection of the human fetus and conditions for admissibility of termination of pregnancy is “one of the cruelest anti-abortion laws”.
So what if he doesn’t punish us for our own abortions when he goes after those who help us?
– Early Broniarczyk. She recalled that one of her friends was accused of helping to terminate the pregnancy.
Justyna helped a woman who was being terrorized by her own husband. Justyna sent her her abortion pills. Her second court hearing will take place on July 14. Justyna faces three years in prison for doing state work, siding with empathy and having the courage to help abortion
– emphasized the activist.
Broniarczyk admitted that she herself had an abortion and assured that she had never regretted this decision. According to her, about 30 percent of women have this kind of experience. in Poland.
Honorable Members, honorable Members, if you know ten women, three of them must have had an abortion. It is very likely that you love these people, but you know nothing about these abortions
– said the activist.
I am well aware that there are people in the room today who have had an abortion experience. Do you dare to raise your hand with me and show how often this experience occurs?
she asked, then raised her hand. Katarzyna Ueberhan, MP from the left, made a similar gesture.
of the Criminal Code / PAP
Source: wPolityce
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.