OPEN LETTER
To:
President of
the
The Sejm of the
The Senate
of the
We strongly oppose the initiative of the League of Polish Families (LPR)
political party to totally ban the termination of pregnancy by the amendment of
the article 38 of the Constitution, namely introducing the phrase “the
protection of life from the moment of conception”. We are against this
initiative since it creates a serious menace for all girls and women. The
amendment of the article 38 will result in a deeper respect for the fetus than
for a women’s life. The victims of rape, as well as women, who are conscious
that the fetus is seriously and fatally damaged will
be forced to give a birth. The pregnancy would not be even terminated if the
life or health of a women is threatened. Paradoxically,
article 38 which aims at the protection of the every
person’s life, would not guarantee the protection of the life of pregnant
women.
The LPR’s struggle to amend article 38 will
lead to further limitation of the women’s human rights in
The means the League of Polish Families undertaken to introduce ban on
abortion are also unacceptable. The Constitution has been accepted by Polish
citizens in referendum. Article 38 has been extensively discussed in social
debate. When the Constitution was put to the vote, electorate was conscious
that the article 38 has an influence on the Polish abortion bill. It is not a
hazard that it does not protect life from the moment of conception. There was
no social consent for it. We believe that it is inadmissible to change the
content of any constitutional article in a way other than referendum.
The initiative of the League of Polish Families is not only an
objectification of a women but also stays in stark
contrast with the more liberal law that can be exercised by women in almost all
the EU Member States.
We appeal to the President of Poland, Lower and Higher House of the
Parliament to refuse all the projects that lead to
limitation of women’s human rights: a right to life, health and dignity.