Europe Update: Abortion Rights at Risk in Poland and Slovakia

Center for Reproductive Rights
11.06.2020

Recent developments in Poland and Slovakia demonstrate the ongoing struggle to defend abortion rights against coordinated and systemic attacks on sexual and reproductive rights across the world. 

Poland 
Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe and access to abortion in the country is extremely limited—and often practically impossible. Poland is one of only two countries in the European Union that does not allow abortion on request or on broad social grounds. A recent ruling by the country’s Constitutional Tribunal will make abortion care even more difficult to access. 

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/story/europe-update-abortion-rights-risk-poland-and-slovakia


Coronavirus Created an Obstacle Course for Safe Abortions

Coronavirus Created an Obstacle Course for Safe Abortions
But during the pandemic, a few countries liberalized their requirements, allowing at-home medical terminations.

By Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Alisha Haridasani Gupta and Monika Pronczuk
June 14, 2020

BRUSSELS — When a 19-year-old woman from southern Poland decided to end her pregnancy at 18 weeks, she knew the only way to get an abortion was to rush to a neighboring European country.

Abortion is illegal in most circumstances in Poland, and so for years, many women have traveled within Europe to seek the procedure.

But it was April, and across the continent, borders were closing fast because of the coronavirus pandemic. So she and a friend loaded up their Renault with instant noodles and candy for a 14-hour race to Utrecht, in the Netherlands. They made it just in time for her to have the procedure and return home, her friend said.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/world/europe/coronavirus-abortion-obstacles.html


Europe: Abortion Curbs Endanger Women, Girls in Pandemic

Europe: Abortion Curbs Endanger Women, Girls in Pandemic

Measures Urgently Needed to Safeguard Access in the Region

April 8, 2020

(Brussels) – European governments should urgently guarantee safe and timely access to abortion care for women and girls in the region during the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 nongovernmental organizations said today.

Many women and girls in Europe are struggling to safely access abortion care during the pandemic as barriers caused by highly restrictive abortion laws and onerous administrative requirements to access abortion services make safe access to this essential health care extremely difficult. The call comes as Poland’s parliament prepares to debate a draconian new law that would make one of the region’s most highly restrictive abortion laws significantly more stringent.

Continued: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/08/europe-abortion-curbs-endanger-women-girls-pandemic


Slovakia – in sixth vote – backs abortion rights

Slovakia - in sixth vote - backs abortion rights

December 5, 2019
Molly Millar

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Slovakia narrowly defeated a bill on Thursday that would have forced women seeking an abortion to see images of their unborn child - and hear its heartbeat - in the country’s sixth vote on reproductive rights this year.

The legislation in overwhelmingly Catholic Slovakia would have been the first of its kind in the European Union, raising fears among human rights organizations of setting a precedent in nations pursuing a conservative social agen

Continued: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-women-abortion/slovakia-in-sixth-vote-backs-abortion-rights-idUSKBN1Y92FY


Ireland: State risks further abortion compo after €30k payout

State risks further abortion compo after €30k payout
Thursday, November 09, 2017

By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
Irish Examiner Political Correspondent

Ireland is at risk of having to pay compensation to thousands of women forced to travel abroad to receive an abortion unless the law is immediately changed to make the procedure legal and easily accessible.

The US-based Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) made the claim after the State paid out €30,000 over an abortion case, for only the second time in its history, in response to a UN ruling on the matter.

Continued at source: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/state-risks-further-abortion-compo-after-30k-payout-462516.html


Ireland: Tensions over witnesses’ letters at Eighth Amendment committee

Tensions over witnesses' letters at Eighth Amendment committee
Updated / Wednesday, 8 Nov 2017

Chair of the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment has told members that she will not be reading letters of witnesses into the record of the committee, if they choose not to attend.

Senator Catherine Noone was returning to an earlier request by Deputy Mattie McGrath of the Rural Independent Group, who requested that letters be those who did not attend today be read by the chair.

Continued at source: https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/1108/918537-oireachtas-eighth-amendment-committee/


UN will challenge Ireland further if abortion law unchanged, Oireachtas told

UN will challenge Ireland further if abortion law unchanged, Oireachtas told
Anti-abortion professor declines to give evidence to ‘kangaroo court’
Nov 8, 2017
Sarah Bardon

Ireland will face further cases before the United Nations if it fails to change abortion laws, an Oireachtas committee has been advised.

The committee examining the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution was warned the State would be further criticised by the UN human rights committee and be forced to pay compensation to individual women if the status quo remained.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/un-will-challenge-ireland-further-if-abortion-law-unchanged-oireachtas-told-1.3284727


U.N. Committee: Criminalization of Abortion in Ireland Violates Woman’s Human Rights

U.N. Committee: Criminalization of Abortion in Ireland Violates Woman's Human Rights
New Decision Marks Second Time the U.N. Human Rights Committee Calls for Abortion Law Reform in Ireland

06.13.17 - (PRESS RELEASE) The United Nations Human Rights Committee has just ruled for the second time that Ireland’s abortion laws subjected a woman to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. This new decision recognizes yet again that prohibiting abortion violates women’s human rights and calls on Ireland to reform its laws.

The U.N. Committee ruled in favor of Siobhán Whelan, who was denied access to abortion services in Ireland following a diagnosis of a fatal fetal impairment. The Committee held that Ireland must provide Ms. Whelan with reparations for the harm she suffered and reform its laws to ensure other women do not continue to face similar violations. The Committee instructed Ireland to legalize abortion and provide effective, timely and accessible abortion services in Ireland.

Continued at source: Center for Reproductive Rights: https://www.reproductiverights.org/press-room/un-committee-criminalization-of-abortion-in-ireland-violates-womans-human-rights-0


Irish abortion law violated woman’s human rights, UN says

Irish abortion law violated woman’s human rights, UN says

Siobhan Whelan forced to travel to UK for abortion after fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis

June 13, 2017
Paul Cullen

A United Nations committee has found Ireland violated the human rights of a woman who had to travel to Britain for an abortion after her baby was diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality.
The UN human rights committee has told the State to pay compensation to the woman, Siobhan Whelan, and to provide psychological treatment to her.

Continued at source: Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/irish-abortion-law-violated-woman-s-human-rights-un-says-1.3118145