Protests against possible abortion ban held in Poland and abroad
Women refuse to let anyone but them decide about their bodies and their lives, underlined the organisers of the "Reclaim Choice" demonstration in front of the Sejm (lower house) on Saturday. Protests were also held in other cities.
The protest in front of the Sejm was organised by the Reclaim Choice Alliance that defines itself as "a coalition of organisations, groups and people fighting for the right to abortion that was taken away from us 23 years ago".
The Alliance has stated that it does not affiliate itself with political parties or commercial entities.
The collection of signatures under a bill liberalising current anti-abortion regulations began on Saturday, the "Save the Women" Legislative Initiative Committee announced before the demonstration.
During the protest signatures were also collected under a Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) motion for a referendum on abortion to be held in Poland.
The organisers estimate the number of protesters in front of the Sejm at 8,000.
Protests were also held in other cities in Poland and abroad, including Bucharest, Prague, London, Brussels and Tokyo, PAP was told by Natalia Broniarczyk from the March 8 Women's Alliance. Police estimate that almost 3,000 people protested in Poznan (western Poland).
On Thursday the Sejm registered the "Stop Abortion" Legislative Initiative Committee, an organisation that plans to collect signatures under a citizens' draft completely banning abortion in Poland. (PAP)
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