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Original poster

Polish women fighting back against abortion laws

37 replies

DancelikeEmmaGoldman · 29/10/2020 02:02

It’s encouraging to see the protests.

“Tens of thousands of Poles have been marching for almost a week to protest a new high court ruling that imposes a near-total ban on abortion, blocking major roads and bridges and chanting anti-government slogans.

The demonstrators, some dressed as characters from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” have even disrupted masses and vandalized churches — a rare case of lashing out at the government’s ally, the Catholic Church, in the staunchly Catholic country.”

www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/world/europe/poland-abortion-ruling-protests.html

OP posts:
stumbledin · 30/10/2020 23:34

Interesting to see that the Polish President has distanced himself from the most recent restrictions on abortion.

"Poland’s president says women themselves should have the right to abortion in case of congenitally damaged fetuses" www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/poland-abortion-law-rules-andrzej-duda-protests-latest-b1416475.html

And for anyone on facebook there is an online event to show support tomorrow www.facebook.com/events/290573855534829/ starting at 2pm

HecatesCats · 30/10/2020 21:13

[quote Gabcsika]There is a press conference today by some of the representatives today. In English it starts at around 45 minutes.

You can listen to it here:

www.facebook.com/ogolnopolskistrajkkobiet/videos/843974906370814[/quote]
These women are amazing.

Really upset to read that women are already being turned away from clinics & hospitals, it must be so harrowing: Since last week, The Federation for Women and Family Planningg^ has received dozens of calls from distressed women, including from those turned away from clinics despite having pre-existing appointments on the grounds of foetal ^abnormalities. www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/30/polish-hospitals-begin-turning-away-women-seeking-abortions^

Manderleyagain · 30/10/2020 21:07

Thanks for the links & suggestions of orgs to support.
This is such a terrible development & within Europe. Brave women to be protesting.

Gabcsika · 30/10/2020 11:47

There is a press conference today by some of the representatives today. In English it starts at around 45 minutes.

You can listen to it here:

www.facebook.com/ogolnopolskistrajkkobiet/videos/843974906370814

HecatesCats · 29/10/2020 11:09

Solidarity with our sisters in Poland. Here's the post on organisations to support by Gabcsika from the other thread:

There is women on the waves.

Specifically for Poland there are some organisations working cross-europe and beyond helping women gain access to abortion.

https://www.asn.org.uk/] - Abortion Support Network is a network helping women find safe travel to other European countries. They help with funding and travel costs if necessary.

https://abortion.eu] - part of the Ciocia Basia Network (Auntie Basia) Abortion without Borders run an advice line directing women to services and advising them as to what they can do. Ciocia Basia is an activist group created to support people from countries where abortion is illegal who want to come to Berlin to have an abortion. They facilitate contact and appointments with confidential, non-judgemental counsellors and medical professionals who offer medical and surgical abortion.
We also help with the translation and can provide free accommodation in volunteer homes in Berlin if needed. We do not profit financially from our activism!

http://abortionnetwork.amsterdam/] - much like Cocia Basia this organisation helps women get to Amsterdam to acess safe abortion.

https://www.maszwybor.net/] - Women on the Web run a support forum

https://womenhelp.org/] - Women Help Women is a fantastic organisation that sends contraception and abortion tablets direct to women's homes. They run on donations and only ask that women pay what they can afford. If they can't afford they will send them without charge. It runs on donations, so please help them!

ArabellaScott · 29/10/2020 09:47

Solidarity with the women of Poland.

SophocIestheFox · 29/10/2020 06:29

More power to you, women of Poland.

If anyone wants to donate in solidarity, this thread had some links on it

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/a4057903-Poland-bans-almost-all-abortions?msgid=101205955#101205955

NonnyMouse1337 · 29/10/2020 05:29

Solidarity with the women of Poland. Truly awful that women still have to fight for bodily autonomy.

FagashJackie · 29/10/2020 03:54

I personally think it's shocking that Polish women are in this day and age not given agency over their own bodies. 12 years ago Poland was giving three years maternity or an option on the job. How has it gone so far backwards?

Original poster
DancelikeEmmaGoldman · 29/10/2020 03:45

Dear BBC, how do Polish people decide who might might need an abortion and who will be driven to desperation by the refusal? For ease, is there a word to describe this class of people?

Abortion-havers? Non-menstruators? If only there was a simple word. Oh women! I suppose it’s ok to use when you’re talking about foreigners and their “women’s strike” (BBC quote marks).

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-europe-54716780?__twitter_impression=true

OP posts:
PurpleHoodie · 29/10/2020 03:28

Solidarity with the women of Poland Flowers

FagashJackie · 29/10/2020 03:07

This is a big thing, the churches are still open, but the government is bringing out the tanks against woman protestors. Shocking revisitionist laws. In solidarity with Polish women.

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