Polish Activist Convicted Of Helping Woman Access Abortion In Poland In First Case For Europe
Polish abortion activist Justyna Wydrzyńska was yesterday found guilty of helping a woman access abortion by supplying abortion pills – a case which is a first for Europe.
Wydrzyńska is an activist and founding member of the Abortion Dream Team and Abortion Without Borders, dedicating her life to campaigning for abortion access in Poland.
She had been charged with aiding an abortion because she gave her own abortion pills to Ania, a woman she did not know.
This is the first case marking the prosecution of an abortion activist in Europe, with Justyna being sentenced to serve eight months of community service and given a fine. Meanwhile, was acquitted of the intent to supply medicine to the market.
Regardless, she previously said she has no regrets about her decision to help “Ania” by posting her own abortion pills in 2020.
“We are angry that the judge has come to this conclusion today, in spite of the evidence that it was an act of care and empathy,” said Charlotte Fischer, chair of ASN’s board of trustees.
“It was Justyna’s name on the court documents, but she has actually put the whole Polish abortion system on trial.”
“She has shown the human need and value of abortion, as a way for women to control their own bodies and lives, as well as the immeasurably cruel ways the Polish state has tried to penalise people whose only crime is helping others.”
“Justyna has made it clear she has no regrets for helping Ania, and we are proud to work alongside her. No matter the judgement, we will continue to fund abortions.”
The Polish anti-abortion law, passed in 1993, allowed for abortion in only three cases: fetal defects, danger to the life or health of the pregnant person, or if the pregnancy was the product of a crime.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has said multiple times that abortion is healthcare and all women should have access to it.
Do you think she should have been convicted for helping a woman access healthcare?
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