PHM-Exch> Urgent solidarity request against Polands complete ban of abortions

[nadia van der linde]

Dear PHM supporters, 

I'm forwarding this urgent and important call for solidarity from Poland where lawmakers are working on draft legislation to ban abortions altogether, even for women who were raped, or carrying deformed foetuses or face health risks. 

Below is a sample letter you can use to the Polish Prime Minister, who is also the head of the biggest party 
currently running for re-election. 
Please send a letter today to the Polish PM to 
prevent criminalization of abortion, and spread this message to your networks.
You can email the 
letter to : Donald.Tusk at sejm.pl with federa at astra.org.pl in 
cc.
 
You can also support ASTRA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ASTRA-Network/113128578712592
 Regards,
Nadia
(forwarding this message from ASTRA - Central and Eastern Europe Women's Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights)
 
---------------------


Your Excellency,

I write to express my concern that the 
draft text for the new bill on
abortion: "The law on changing the Law on 
family planning, protection of the human fetus and conditions for legal 
abortion" - to be discussed by the Parliament's Committee by the 1st of 
September - contains provisions that will result in violations of women's sexual 
and reproductive rights and health.

The international human rights 
standard is to liberalize abortion laws to make it safe and accessible to women 
and thereby lessen maternal mortality related to unsafe abortion. The language 
used in the draft of the new bill regarding the right to life does not 
correspond to that used in international and European human rights instruments - 
to which Poland is also party - as it unconditionally prohibits abortion, 
thereby leading not to lessening the number of women inducing abortion but only 
makes it dangerous for women who will undergo clandestine and unsafe abortion. 
Passing the bill will increase maternal mortality, abortion-related injuries and 
deaths are likely to be especially high among poor women, who can't afford to 
travel abroad. As a result, many of them might try self-induced 
abortions.

It is unacceptable that in the 21st Century, a European 
country
includes in its legislation a provision which directly 
endangers
women's lives. I trust that you will do your best to ensure 
that
Poland considers reviewing its legislation regarding abortion in 
a
forward-looking legislation, taking the lead in promoting women's
sexual 
and reproductive rights.

Sincerely 
yours, 		 	   		  
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