Anti-abortion and pro-choice groups clash in Prague

The anti-abortion protesters held an annual march across Prague, while pro-choice groups briefly blocked their way and held a separate rally.

Written by ČTK

Published on 02.05.2022

The National March For Life, an annual event held by opponents of abortion,
marched across Prague on Saturday after a two-year pause caused by the
coronavirus pandemic, while another group of demonstrators promoted women's
right to abortion.

The two demonstrating groups met near Mánes Bridge, where the participants had
verbal exchanges. Those defending the right to abortion briefly blocked the
opponents' way, but without the police having to intervene.

Continued: https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/anti-abortion-protesters-march-in-prague-pro-choice-activists-counter

Death of pregnant Polish woman sparks new wave of abortion protests in Czechia

On the Day of Polish Independence, protestors marched against hardline abortion laws at the Polish consulate in Ostrava.

Written by Expats.cz Staff

Published on 12.11.2021

Poland’s crackdown on abortion is forcing more and more Polish women to seek
help in the Czech Republic. The “Auntie Czech” collective helping Polish women
get abortions across the border earlier this month marked its first anniversary
with a fundraiser in Prague.

Yesterday, on the occasion of the Day of Polish Independence, around 100 people
met outside the Polish general consulate seat in Ostrava to protest against
tough abortion legislation in Poland. The protest was organized to support
larger-scale efforts taking place in Poland following the death of a pregnant
woman after doctors refused to carry out an abortion to save her.

Continued: https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/polish-abortion-restrictions-spark-protests-in-the-czech-republic

Poland’s Government Requests Czechia Stop Offering Abortions to Polish Women

A secretary of state at Poland’s Foreign Ministry said abortions offered to Polish women in Czech clinics are “an encouragement to violate the rights of Polish citizens” and could affect bilateral relations.

Claudia Ciobanu, Warsaw
May 3, 2021

The Polish government on Monday confirmed a report by the Czech weekly Respekt that a representative of the Polish embassy in Prague had sent a letter to the Czech health minister in March asking him to intervene to block legislation being debated by the Czech parliament that would clarify the terms under which foreigners can get abortions in the country.

The intervention by the Polish chargé d’affaires in Prague, described as diplomatically unusual by a Czech deputy minister for legislation, indicates that the right-wing Law and Justice-led (PiS) government is now looking to prevent Polish women from seeking a termination abroad after it engineered a near-total ban on abortion at home. On October 22, the Constitutional Tribunal, which has been illegally stuffed with PiS-friendly judges, ruled that abortions in the case of a malformation of the foetus are unconstitutional.

Continued: https://balkaninsight.com/2021/05/03/polands-government-requests-czechia-stop-offering-abortions-to-polish-women/

Auntie Czech to help Polish women deprived of abortion rights

Angered and disappointed with the recent anti-abortion court ruling in her home country, a young Polish artist living in the Czech Republic is organising help for her compatriots.

Anja Vladisavljevic, Zagreb
November 9, 2020

“Sadness, big sadness, disappointment… and anger”: that's what a Polish artist residing in the Czech capital, Jolanta Nowaczyk, felt when she learnt last month about the anti-abortion court ruling in her home country.

Soon after the controversial court decision on October 22, which effectively outlaws abortion by banning terminations where the foetus is severely damaged or malformed, Nowaczyk organised a protest in front of the Polish embassy in Prague. But that was not the only action she took: Nowaczyk is now also launching an initiative that aims to help Polish women needing an abortion to come to the Czech Republic for the procedure.

Continued: https://balkaninsight.com/2020/11/09/auntie-czech-to-help-polish-women-deprived-of-abortion-rights/

How Poland’s far-right government is pushing abortion underground

How Poland’s far-right government is pushing abortion underground
A year ago, mass protests in Poland defeated a new abortion ban. But the ruling party, supported by the church, continues to cut reproductive rights – leaving people at the mercy of the black market.

By Alex Cocotas
Thursday 30 November 2017

Barbara Nowacka first had an inkling that something exceptional was happening on the morning of the protests. It was October 2016, and a journalist she knew, a conservative, called to ask how it was looking. She told him she had no idea what was going to happen. The journalist told her that his two daughters had gone to school that morning dressed in black. Perhaps, Nowacka thought, this could be big.

A ban on abortion in Poland had been put forward in parliament six months earlier, and Nowacka, a leftwing politician and long-time social activist, was a leading figure in the movement to oppose it. Nationwide protests had been scheduled for 3 October, but like most people, she had little hope that they would succeed. Perhaps they would get a nice crowd, a little media coverage; but it would ultimately be a gesture. The law would pass.

continued at source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/30/how-polands-far-right-government-is-pushing-abortion-underground

How women’s rights have still been hit despite abortion ban climbdown in Poland

How women’s rights have still been hit despite abortion ban climbdown in Poland
By Chris Harris
Oct 17, 2017

Poland may have kicked a near-total abortion ban into the long grass but women’s sexual and reproductive rights have taken a hit in the last year, campaigners have told Euronews.

Around 100,000 people hit the streets on October 3 last year to protest against moves to outlaw all cases of women terminating their pregnancies.

The civil disobedience – called the Black Protest – forced the government to abandon the proposals

But activists claim women’s rights have still been hit over the last year as the government introduced more subtle changes to discourage abortion.

Continued at source: http://www.euronews.com/2017/10/17/how-women-s-rights-have-still-been-hit-despite-abortion-ban-climbdown-in-poland

Strict law pushes Polish women to have abortions abroad

Published November 03, 2016 Associated Press

PRENZLAU, Germany – While the streets of Warsaw have been engulfed by vehement protests over the government's plan to further restrict abortion, individual Polish women are struggling daily to find ways of ending their unwanted pregnancies.

Monika, 19, had recently split up with her boyfriend when she realized with horror that she was pregnant. With no partner, no money and years of education ahead, she felt an abortion was her only option. But abortion in Poland is illegal in most cases and even when she tracked down a doctor rumored to bend the rules, he refused.

[continued at link]
Source: Associated Press