Poland still considering controversial abortion ban

Polish MPs have put the controversial proposal forward to the Commission of Justice and Human Rights, where its members will further discuss the draft bill and work on its final version.

A motion on Friday whether to reject the draft bill saw 154 MPs voting for, 267 voting against and 11 abstaining.

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.

Second draft bill rejected

Meanwhile, the Sejm rejected the “Save Women” committee’s proposal, which was backed by over 215,000 signatures.

The pro-choice proposal envisioned allowing women to terminate pregnancy on demand, up to the 12th week of pregnancy.

The proposal was rejected by 230 Polish MPs, 173 MPs backed the bill, and 15 MPs abstained.

Passed in 1993, the current law bans all terminations unless there was rape or incest, the pregnancy poses a health risk to the mother or the foetus is severely deformed.

According to a new poll by TNS Polska, 42 percent of Poles do not want the legislation on abortion to change, 25 percent would like it to be more liberal, and only 14 percent of Poles would like a stricter law on pregnancy termination. (tf/rg)

Source: PAP, IAR, AFP