Poland: Thousands of people took to the streets of Poland in a wave of protests against the country’s restrictive abortion law following the tragic death of a woman who was five months pregnant.

The woman, named Ms. Dorota Lalik, died of sepsis, becoming the latest victim since the law was tightened. The protesters, chanting “Stop killing us,” marched through Warsaw towards the health ministry headquarters, displaying placards demanding “We want doctors, not missionaries” and expressing outrage with slogans like “Hell for women.”

Poland’s abortion laws are already known to be among the strictest in Europe, and they have been a source of mass protests in recent years. The death of Ms. Dorota Lalik in May has further fueled anti-government sentiment among liberal Poles, particularly with national elections scheduled for October or November 2023.

The constitutional court decision implemented by Prime Minister Mr. Mateusz Morawiecki’s nationalist government in 2021 banned terminations of pregnancies with fetal defects, reflecting the increasing influence of conservative policies in a country deeply rooted in Catholicism.

Abortion rights activists have revealed that at least five pregnant women have died due to complications, and their families have come forward to blame the restrictive abortion regulations for these tragic outcomes. The demonstrations signal a growing discontent with the government’s stance on reproductive rights and a determination to fight for more liberal policies.

As Poland continues to grapple with the implications of its abortion law, the voices of protesters calling for change are likely to become even more prominent and influential in the coming months.

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