S&Ds urge Poland to lift its abortion ban, reaffirming women's rights and gender equality as top priorities

Today, atthe request of the S&D Group, the European Parliament will debate the lack of progress when it comes to abortion rights in Poland. One year after the elections that removed PiS from power, Poland still has one of the most draconian abortion laws in Europe.*

A three-year inquiry by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concluded that Poland's near-total ban on abortion results in grave and systematic human rights violations including severe physical and mental suffering on women, which can even amount to torture.** The UN committee recommends that Poland legalises and fully decriminalises abortion.

The S&Ds will keep fighting to ensure that Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are protected and upheld across the EU and around the world. They call on Poland to immediately repeal the current abortion ban and restrictions.

Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, S&D MEP and spokesperson on women's rights, said:

"It's very good news that this debate is taking place as it was initially blocked by our political opponents in this house. I am glad that Manfred Weber and the EPP Group that he's leadingunderstood that it is worth talking about women's rights. I count on the EPP to join our fight for gender equality. Together, we must stand against the far right and anti-gender movement and their attacks on women's rights in Poland, Europe,and globally.

"It is not only deeply frustrating, but also absolutely unacceptable that one year after the elections, the near-total ban on abortion is still in force in Poland. Polish women and young people who massively voted for change feel betrayed. All the efforts led by Lewica (S&D) to decriminalise abortion failed in the Polish parliament due to the lack of support from members of the ruling coalition, Trzecia Droga (Renew/EPP), alongside members of the conservative opposition, including PiS (ECR).

"However, we will not stop fighting until Polish women have access to legal and safe abortion. The conclusions of the UN report only reassure us that this is the only way to ensure full respect of the human rights of Polish women."

Lina Gálvez, S&D MEP and chair of the FEMM committee, added:

"I am very worried about the growing backlash against Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. SRHR isnot only a question of women's health but also of fundamental rights. No government or law can remove women's freedom to decide over their own lives and bodies.

"Gender backlash is a core aspect ofantidemocratic forces in Europe. So this is why it is essential for the pro-European and pro-democratic forces to put women's rights and gender equality at the forefront of our political action, as we, the S&Ds, are doing. That includes ending theunderrepresentation of women in decision-making positions.

"I am alarmed by recent developments regarding gender equality within our institutions. Not only do we now have fewer women in the European Parliament for the first time, but the new European Commission will also lack gender balance. Only our political family has parity: two women and two men in the positions of commissioners-designate. Furthermore, the new Commission proposed by President-designate Ursula von der Leyendoes not include a dedicated Commissioner for Equality, marking a step backwards from 2019.

"This only means one thing for us -as S&Ds, we will double our efforts and keep equality and women's rights a top priority in all our work. Now more than ever."

Note to editor:

*Poland's current abortion law remains among the most restrictive in Europe. The country's near-total ban, introduced in 2020 by the PiS-controlled Constitutional Tribunal allows abortion only if the woman's health or life is at risk,or if the pregnancy results from a crime.

**The report, published on 26 August,2024, finds that the near-total ban on abortion in Poland and criminalisation of abortion inflicts severe physical and mental suffering on women, which can amount to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and causes systematic violations of their human rights, including the rights to health, the rightsto privacy and equality.

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