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People Power in Poland Beats Parliament Over Proposed Abortion Law

© REUTERS / Kacper PempelWomen hold placards as they take part in an abortion rights campaigners' demonstration "Black Protest" in front of the Parliament in Warsaw, Poland October 1, 2016. The placards read: "I want to have a choice!"
Women hold placards as they take part in an abortion rights campaigners' demonstration Black Protest in front of the Parliament in Warsaw, Poland October 1, 2016. The placards read: I want to have a choice! - Sputnik International
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It seems mass solidarity among women across the world - joined by the opposite sex - can create the people power needed to convince parliament to reject a proposal to ban all abortions in Poland.

Poland, a mostly Catholic nation, which has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, has just avoided making those laws stricter after lawmakers voted to reject a proposal to make all abortions illegal.

Abortion is currently only allowed in a minority of cases involving rape or incest, or if the mother's life is in danger or the fetus is badly damaged.

However, an anti-abortion group recently proposed a total ban on abortion in Poland and prison sentences for women flouting the ban, provoking outrage among women across Europe.

The proposal which originated as a citizens' initiative collected 450,000 signatures and more than 100,000 people went on strike in the country on Monday, October 3, against the bill.

But ahead of the vote in Poland's parliament on Thursday, October 6, the #CzarnyProtest started trending on Twitter as women gathered across European cities wearing black to pledge their solidarity with the fight to stop Poland's abortions laws becoming even stricter.

​Subsequently, parliament voted to reject the proposal, in what appears to be in response to the mass protests.

The attempts to make Poland's sexual and reproductive health laws even more restricted also prompted a fierce debate in the European Parliament.

The debate began with a statement from EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourova, who declared that European Union had no power to interfere in member states' policies or legislate on abortion.

Nevertheless, MEPs agreed that it should be able to debate any issue that is considered relevant to political and human rights concerns. 

Those MEPs who agreed, argued that the proposed bill before the Polish parliament was a blow against women's rights, which should never be taken for granted.

MEP Gianni Pitella, head of the Social Democratic group, said the bill was "pro-death," while Vera Jourova wore black in solidarity with Polish women, as did many other female MEPs — along with hundreds and thousands of protesters across Europe.

However, their fight might not be over just yet. 

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