“This is war”: European solidarity with Polish women

23 October 2020 | Statement

Since 2016, the Polish Government tried to tighten the legislation on abortion, among the strictest in Europe. Since 2016, it found the opposition of masses of women and men mobilising in the streets across Poland under the slogan “Polish Women’ Strike”. After failing times and times again to pass the restrictions in the Parliament due to public outcry, the ruling party bypassed it and brought the issue directly to the Constitutional Court. Yesterday the Court ruled that abortions for fetal abnormalities violate the country’s Constitution. This is not only an issue of restriction of fundamental rights but also of further deterioration of the rule of law, in a country where the politicisation of courts has long been documented.

Despite the health crisis, this Friday a large rally is called by organisations that reject the blow of power. The call, entitled “This is war”, tells better than long speeches what is at stake for women, for society and for rights. Our solidarity with this fight for abortion rights in Poland is full and complete.

BACKGROUND: WHY POLISH WOMEN ARE TAKING TO STREETS SINCE 2016

Check out the interview with Marta Lempart, one of the public faces of this movement, published in our magazine Activizenship 4.