On the 30th of January, our activist sister, Justyna Wydrzyńska, will stand again for a trial in front of a Polish court. Last time, she was found “guilty of helping“ someone who asked for help. Justyna had sent a package of her own abortion pills to Anna, a woman in an unwanted pregnancy. When the pills arrived, Anna’s abusive partner took them away and called the police. While it’s ridiculous that helping someone in need and providing assistance is against the law in Poland, it’s even more outrageous that this criminal charge was for aid in abortion that didn’t even happen. After all, Anna miscarried after using a Foley catheter, ended up in the hospital with sepsis, and barely survived. Fortunately, she is safe now.
Six trials, one conviction, over the INTENT to help someone have an abortion.
For the past year, we hoped the new government in Poland, which campaigned on liberalization and decriminalization of abortion, would fulfill their promises. They came into power thanks to the extraordinary women’s mobilization, but this was just a lie – NOTHING has changed. Activist still has charges. Government even consider bringing back the abortion ban of 1993, saying that this is the 'liberalization’ they promised us.
The situation with abortion is even worse – women turn to Abortion Without Borders for help later than they used to, trying to get an abortion in Polish hospitals because politicians announce everywhere that the situation is better now. These abortions are more problematic to organize and much more expensive. Donations and grants are lower since donors and foreign governments believed that “Polish women won the election.” 'Donald Tusk guarantees democracy and women’s rights’, so we no longer need help…
The reality is that Abortion Without Borders provides abortion to over 130 people in Poland EVERY DAY. Some of them, in wanted pregnancies with health risks, are forced to travel for medical care, even to Mexico, because French and Belgian hospitals are up to their limit to provide abortions for 3rd-semester pregnancies.
Justyna is an expert, a guarantee of safe abortions for people in Poland. She should be protected not prosecuted. But we’re not giving up! Justyna and the Abortion Dream Team are opening AboTak – the first abortion clinic in Poland. Please support us:
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💕 Donate to help open AboTak: https://abotak.org/en/
