Polónia II

Dear Friend,

We appeal to you as members of the Polish movement for the legalization of abortion, hoping to solicit your support for our struggle. We only ask for a few words signed with your name.

The present ultra-right government in our country is taking steps to introduce changes in our Constitution that will effectively lead to a total ban on abortion. The current law is already profoundly hostile to women, with abortion legal only in 3 cases: when pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, when the fetus is seriously damaged, or when the pregnancy is a threat to the woman's life or health. In practice, even in such cases it is almost impossible to obtain a legal abortion.

Therefore, we not only oppose the current government's plans to inscribe the anti-choice policy permanently into the Constitution, but we also protest against the present restrictive law. Meanwhile, there is a flourishing abortion underground in Poland - estimated at 80-200 thousand terminations annually. It is a solution for the well-off: the price of a safe abortion varies from 500 to 1000 Euros. With 60% of Polish women surviving for less than 200 Euros per month, and another 15% living on 100Euros, we judge that only about 20% of the society can afford these illegal abortion services.

The vast majority of women is likely to resort to dangerous home-made measures, or is forced to give birth to unwanted children, which will be doomed to emotional as well as economic poverty. Our voice is not respected in Poland. Those who support women's choice - a norm in most European countries - are marginalized and labeled as "extremists".

We are activists, writers, scientists, artists. Yet, in order to be heard, we need to secure the support of people such as yourself - people who are well known and respected both in Poland and abroad. Please devote a moment of your time to send us a few words of support - Together we hope to break the chain of women's tragedies.

Sincerely Yours,

Katarzyna Bratkowska, Micha½ P½aczek, S.O.S. - Association for the Legalization of Abortion in PolandAgnieszka Graff, Women's 8th of March AllianceWanda Nowicka, Polish Federation for Woman and Family Planning Julia Kubisa, MaMa Foundation