Thousands of people took to the streets in more than 20 towns and cities across Poland, calling for access to free and legal abortion services, according to Al Jazeera. The demonstrations marked the sixth anniversary of a near-total abortion ban implemented by the country's highest court.

According to Al Jazeera, the protests unfolded days after the Polish parliament passed two separate bills designed to ease current abortion restrictions in the mostly Catholic nation. However, activists and reports indicate these measures are likely to be vetoed by conservative President Karol Nawrocki. Zofia Marcinek of the reproductive rights group Abortion Dream Team told Al Jazeera that passing the draft laws a year before parliamentary elections is merely a token gesture rather than genuine reform, suggesting the liberal government knows the bills will not withstand a presidential veto.

In the capital city of Warsaw, Al Jazeera reported that roughly 1,000 protesters gathered in front of parliament despite rainy weather. Emilia Niemiec, a 36-year-old manager at the AboTak abortion centre, told Al Jazeera that over the last six years, nothing has really changed.

Background

According to Al Jazeera, restrictive abortion laws have existed in Poland since 1993. Currently, abortion is legal only when a pregnancy results from a criminal act such as rape or incest, or when it poses a threat to the life or health of the mother. In 2016, nationwide demonstrations took place with women wearing black in protest. Rather than being relaxed, laws were tightened further in 2020 under the national-conservative Law and Justice government to ban abortions of foetuses with congenital defects.

Ahead of the 2023 election, Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government promised to liberalise abortion laws, but progress has been slowed by internal coalition divisions. Al Jazeera noted that despite strict laws, abortions remain common in Poland, with most performed at home using pills obtained from outside the country. While women undergoing abortions do not face criminal responsibility under Polish law, individuals assisting them—including doctors and family members—can potentially be prosecuted.

Why it matters

For international observers and readers following global legislative debates, the situation in Poland highlights the complex intersection of social conservatism, coalition politics, and public advocacy. The protests illustrate how legal restrictions can persist despite shifts in parliamentary majorities and executive leadership, while citizens continue to navigate existing frameworks through alternative means.