PREVENTING AND ADRESSING UNSAFE ABORTION
A TECHNICAL CONSULTATION, 8-11 December 1997 WHO, Geneva

POLAND: CASE STUDY ON LEGAL INSTABILITY
CONCERNING ABORTION

by Wanda Nowicka

I N D E X

Introduction
Short history of abortion regulations in Poland after World War II
The role of the Roman-Catholic Church
The role of medical community
The language of anti-abortion campaigns
Consequences of the 1993 anti-abortion law
The campaign for legal abortion
Features of the liberalized law
Delay in formal implementation of the liberalized law
Present practice of the new law
Women seeking abortions
Other health personnel
Opposition to legal abortion
Polish attitudes towards the new regulations
Constitutional Tribunal decision
The political situation
Conclusion
Summing up, the main reasons of legal instability concerning abortion are the following

ANEX

THE EFFECTS OF THE ANTI-ABORTION LAW
IN FORCE IN POLAND
SINCE MARCH 16 1993

REPORT No 2, February 1996
(excerpts)

Legal abortions

THE EXPERIENCES OF SOME WOMEN