Francisco Guerreiro calls on members of the Polish Parliament not to undermine Human Rights

Lisbon, 14 April 2020 – MEP Francisco Guerreiro (PAN) signs letter to members of the Polish Parliament that, on 15 and 16 April 2020, will debate two law amendments that violate international human rights obligations by Poland and prohibit, almost completely, abortion and the right to sexual education. 

As the letter says, granting unhindered and timely access to reproductive health services and respecting women’s reproductive autonomy and decision-making is critical to protecting women’s human rights and gender equality. It is essential to ensure the health, human dignity, physical and mental integrity, and reproductive autonomy of women and girls.

These two legislative initiatives would violate international human rights obligations by Poland in the protection of women’s rights, as well as the right to comprehensive information and education on sexuality.  

International human rights bodies have repeatedly affirmed that highly restrictive abortion laws contravene human rights standards and must be reformed.

“Poland’s Act of 1993 on Family Planning, Protection of Human Fetus and the Conditions of Legal Pregnancy Termination is one of the most restrictive laws on abortion in the European Union. The bill would in effect result in a near total denial of access to legal abortion in Poland as most legal abortions are performed under this ground,” recalls the letter.

Read the full letter here:

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