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Motion · S5M-23178 · 29 Oct 2020

Poland's Constitutional Tribunal Ruling on Abortion

Lodged by Sandra White Standard Motion 21 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament expresses concern regarding recent event in Poland that have reportedly been described as an attack on human rights, and particularly women’s rights; understands that, on 22 October 2020, Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal issued a ruling that will virtually end legal abortion in Poland, when it found that abortion in cases where the foetus has serious and irreversible birth defects, which make up approximately 98% of all legal terminations in Poland, is unconstitutional; believes that the effect of this ruling will be to further tighten Poland’s abortion law, which is already one of strictest in the EU, by leaving women entitled to legal terminations only if the pregnancy threatens their life or health, or if it results from an illegal act such as rape or incest; acknowledges the opinion of the Human Rights Commissioner for the Council of Europe, Dunja Mijatovic, that this was a sad day for women’s rights, that removing the basis for almost all legal abortions in Poland amounts to a ban and violates human rights and will result in underground abortions, or abortions abroad for those who can afford it, and even greater ordeal for all others; expresses solidarity with those in Poland, and around the world, who are campaigning against this ruling, and supports a strong stand against what it considers fundamentalism and politically motivated aggression towards women’s rights.

Supporters (21)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.