Polish protesters rally in 27 towns over stalled abortion liberalization
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Protesters gathered in 27 Polish localities under the slogan "Red Card for Abortion" after the Sejm backed a Criminal Code amendment.
Three years after the government change, activists say promised abortion access has not arrived.
Background
The protests follow a 2020 ruling by Poland's Constitutional Tribunal that found unconstitutional a provision allowing abortion in one case, and a 2024 bill by The Left and Civic Coalition lawmakers to partially decriminalize abortion. Organizers say no promised changes on abortion access have materialized in the three years since the current government took office, and they plan to raise public pressure. The demonstrations came a day after the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament, supported a bill amending the Criminal Code.
How it unfolded
- Oct 2020Poland's Constitutional Tribunal found unconstitutional a provision that allowed abortion in one case.
- Jul 2024The Left and Civic Coalition lawmakers submitted a bill amending the Criminal Code on partial decriminalization of abortion.
- Oct 22, 2026Protests under the slogan "Red Card for Abortion" were announced in 27 localities; several hundred people gathered near the Sejm building in Warsaw despite rain.
Who’s saying what
- Protesters
- They say no promised changes on abortion access have occurred in the three years since the change of government and intend to increase public pressure on the government.