Guilty of abetting abortion, Polish woman vows to fight on
Posted March 27, 2023 by: Admin
Justyna Wydrzyńska, a co-founder of the grassroots organization Abortion Dream Team, was convicted by a Warsaw court of abetting abortion after providing a domestic violence victim with abortion pills. The victim, who is identified as Ania in Polish media, already had one child and feared being trapped with her abusive partner if she had another. Wydrzyńska, who had also experienced domestic violence and had previously used the pills herself, gave Ania the pills to help her make her own decision and escape the violent relationship.
Abortion is illegal in almost all cases in Poland, a predominantly Catholic country with a deeply conservative government. Abortion is only allowed when a woman’s life or health is at risk, or in cases of rape or incest. Possessing abortion pills is not illegal, but providing them to someone else is a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.
Human rights activists fear that Wydrzyńska’s conviction will discourage others from helping women to terminate their pregnancies. The Abortion Dream Team says it helps around 100 women per day access pills and six or seven per day travel abroad for abortions. Official statistics claim that only 107 abortions were performed in Poland in all of 2021.
Wydrzyńska was sentenced to perform 30 hours of community service a month for 10 months, but plans to appeal. She believes her prosecution was politically motivated and says she has received messages of solidarity from many women, including offers to serve her sentence in her place.
Poland is currently in campaign mode ahead of fall elections, and surveys show that most Poles support more liberal abortion laws. However, the conservative Law and Justice party, which has governed the country since 2015, is expected to win the most votes but fall short of a parliamentary majority.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Wydrzyńska remains committed to helping women access safe and legal abortions. She is proud of Ania for testifying in court and hopes to one day meet her to share their stories. Human rights activists continue to fight for women’s rights to access safe and legal abortions in Poland and around the world.
