Activists open a abortion center near the Polish parliament on women’s day

By Vanessa Gera | Associated Press

Warsaw, Poland – Polish abortion rights activists opened a center in front of the Parliament in Warsaw on Saturday when women can go to have abortions with pills, alone or with other women.

The opening of the center of the International Women’s Day in front of the Legislative Assembly was a symbolic challenge to the authorities of the traditionally Roman Catholic nation, which has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe.

A small but strong group of demonstrators demonstrated outside the center “Abotak” while the activists gathered inside for its inauguration. They exploded strong noises from the cries of babies and held huge horrible posters.

“We will never allow people to kill Polish children on demand,” said one of the anti-abortion demonstrators, Marek Krawczyk while held a rosary. “We warn all Polish politicians not to introduce shameful decisions.”

Activists of rights to abortion with the abortion dream team had private security guards standing at the door, while the police also formed a barrier between the demonstrators and the center.

“We came here to demand space and remind you in your face that women have abortions in Poland and that we will not expect your empty promises,” said one of the activists, Kinga Jelińska, a message to the country’s politicians. She wore a mint green sweatshirt with the words “abortion is normal”.

Jelińska said it was the first stationary abortion center in Poland, but that centers as founded in Latin American countries with restrictive laws such as Mexico and Argentina.

She and her colleagues said it would be a safe place for women who prefer not to have abortions alone in their bathrooms at home. Women can come to advice or to have abortions together, or in a space alone.

When asked if the center would provide the pills themselves, Jelińska said it was between activists and women who need abortions.

One of the activists who launched the center is Justyna Wydrzyńska, who was found guilty by a court in 2023 of the initiation of an abortion. This decision was recently canceled and a new trial was ordered.

The organization has tried to destroy abortion in a society where they say that the abortions are common, the most carried out by women at home with pills, but abortion remains a taboo subject. They also pushed a change in the law, but without success.

The country’s centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk came to power during an election in 2023 in which he promised to liberalize the country’s abortion law. But the coalition he directs extends over a large ideological gap, the legislators on the left who want to legalize abortion and the conservatives strongly opposed.

Last year, he admitted that he did not have the support in Parliamen to change the law. Authorizing abortion until the 12th week of pregnancy had been one of its campaign promises.

Under the current law, abortion is only authorized in cases of rape or incest or if the life or health of women is in danger. A new restriction has entered into force under the former conservative government removing the right of abortion in the event of fetal deformations. This sparked massive street demonstrations.

In practice, say that many women have abortions by themselves with pills obtained abroad.

Originally published: March 8, 2025 at 12:28 pm PST