Poland’s lower house of parliament voted to advance two legislative proposals designed to soften restrictions on abortion access. The bills would eliminate certain criminal penalties for individuals who assist women in obtaining abortion services and would permit terminations in cases of fetal abnormalities. However, observers anticipate that the country’s nationalist president will reject the measures.
Reproductive rights advocates characterized the proposed changes as incremental and insufficient. Representatives from the Center for Reproductive Rights noted that even if both bills are enacted, their practical impact on most Polish women seeking abortion care would be negligible. The advocacy organization Legalna Aborcja similarly stated that the legislation would do nothing to assist women currently needing abortion access.
The parliamentary vote preceded coordinated demonstrations across Poland, with protests scheduled in 27 cities. The rallies marked the sixth anniversary of a 2020 judicial ruling that intensified Poland’s already strict abortion regulations. That earlier ruling had sparked massive public mobilization, with demonstrations described as the largest in Poland since the transition away from communist rule. The recent protests were organized by multiple advocacy groups demanding full decriminalization of abortion and coverage of abortion services through the country’s national healthcare system.
These developments occurred against a backdrop of broader political context. Prime Minister Donald Tusk had campaigned on promises to reform abortion laws after taking office in 2023, initially pledging to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. He subsequently reversed that commitment, citing lack of political consensus. Under current Polish law, abortion remains legal only in cases of pregnancies resulting from criminal acts such as rape or incest, or when continuation poses threats to the pregnant woman’s life or health.
International observers have noted that Poland’s abortion restrictions position it as significantly more restrictive than other European Union member states. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concluded that Poland’s laws constitute severe human rights violations against women.
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