Polish Lawmakers Proceed With Proposal to Ban Abortion

Pro abortion protesters, dressed in black to signify grief in terms of the abortion ban, shout slogans during a demonstration in front of the Polish parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016.

People pray as they take part in an anti-abortion demonstration in front of the Parliament in Warsaw, Poland September 22, 2016.

The Polish parliament has begun debating proposals that would implement a total ban on abortion, despite already having some of Europe’s most restrictive laws.

The 10-month-old conservative government considers the current law to be too liberal.

The vote and support for protecting life is viewed as a welcome step toward maintaining Polish sovereignty on abortion and other issues as the country faces continued pressure from pro-abortion elites at the European Union and the United Nations following the change in political power resulting from last year’s election in which the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party won control of both the government and parliament.

The proposal by the pro-life “Stop Abortion” group, was backed by some 450,000 signatures, and envisions a total ban on abortion – even in case of rape, incest, and severely sick foetuses – as well as jail-time for women who would willingly terminate pregnancy. Observers say the government is bowing to the expectations of many Church leaders, whose support helped the party win elections a year ago.

Aside from the abortion ban, the parliament will also debate draft legislation that would limit in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), also called the “test-tube baby” treatment. The anti-abortion group, some with small children in pushchairs, prayed aloud, while pro-abortion rights activists were clad in black to signify mourning over the restrictions in the availability of abortion.

Abortion is now permitted only in cases of rape, incest or medical complications for the mother or child.

Tens of thousands are done illegally, activists say, with many women crossing the border to Germany or Slovakia to obtain the procedure.