One of the most important agendas of women this year was the right to abortion, emphasizing their choices regarding their bodies and lives. In many parts of the world, women continue their struggle for the right to abortion, which is wanted to be restricted or completely banned by the patriarchal mentality.

 

According to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO), abortion is legal only in 52 countries in the world. Most countries allow abortion in cases such as when the health of the woman is in danger or in cases of rape, while women are being punished if they have an abortion because they want to.

 

ABORTION BAN IN 68 COUNTRIES

 

Abortion, which is free in 73 countries around the world, is prohibited in 68 countries. There are Ireland and Malta in the list of the counrties where abortion is completely banned even though they are members of the European Union (AB). In Saudi Arabia, Israel, Argentina and Thailan, abortion is only legal when the life of the mother or the fetus is in danger. However,  in abortions approved due to health problems, a permit must be obtained from the man the woman is married to. In Turkey, even though unprompted abortion is legal, sanctions are applied to those who perform the operation if a permission was not obtained from the man. 

 

8 WOMEN DIE EVERY 8 MINUTES

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that abortion is still being done in the countries that banned it, but it is carried out in unfavorable conditions. According to a report published by WHO, every 8 minutes in developing countries, a woman dies because of these illegal abortions, and about 5 million women become temporarily or permanently disabled. 

 

VICTORY OF RESISTANCE IN ARGENTINA

 

The resistance of women in many countries against the abortion ban, which cost the lives of women, left its mark on the year. Women taking to the streets in Poland and Argentina showed that organized power cannot be stopped. The resistance initiated by women in Argentina and Poland has turned into an inclusive struggle that socializes and finds a voice in all segments. Women who resisted won in Argentina, where abortion is legal under certain conditions. In Argentina, where abortion is allowed only in cases of rape and threats to women's health, a bill that allows abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy was approved in the Senate as a result of women's resistance.

 

ABORTION BAN IN POLAND 

 

Poland is one of the countries which has the most strict anti-abortion laws in Europe. The "abortion ban" decision of the Constitutional Court entered into force on January 28. With this decision, the currently restricted abortion ban was made more stringent. With this decision in Poland, abortion can only be done in cases of rape, incest or the life of the pregnant woman in danger, but not if the fetus has serious health problems.

 

WOMEN TOOK TO THE STREETS 

 

Women has been out on the streets protesting since the day the draft bill was introduced. Women use slogans such as 'My body my decision", "My government is killing me", "Revolution has a womb", "I will protect my sister if the state won't protect me" and "You will never walk alone". Polish women will also be in the streets against abortion ban on March 8, International Women's Day.

 

AN UNPRECEDENTED PROTEST

 

Laurie Debeni, who lives in Krakow, Poland and is a member of a feminist group called Krakowska Manifa and Fem Fund, and is also in the March 8 Committee, spoke to the Mesopotamia Agency (MA) regarding their ongoing protests and 8 March.

 

Stating that in Varsaw, the capital of Poland, there are at least one protests a week, Debeni said: "There was a huge turn out before October, it was like a revolution was in progress. Everyone was there. It was an unprecedented occasion. Even the people in small villages took to the streets. We are in the middle of a global pandemic but struggling against this law is also vital for women."

 

DESPITE THE PANDEMIC 

 

Pointing out that the protest began again after the law passed but there was a 'Red Zone' measure in the country due to the pandemic, Debeni said: "The restaurants, cafes, hotels and shops were closed. A curfew was imposed. It was forbidden to gather with more than 5 people outside. But a hundred thousand people were gathering in the protests in Warsaw. All of our protests were considered to be illegal because of the Red Zone measure. Of course it had legal consequences. When the protests first started, people from all segments participated in the protests. Liberals, leftists, anarchists, even people who had never participated in any demonstrations before. Thousands were there. It was like there was a social change. The protests that started against the ban on abortion, turned into anti- oppression and anti- police protests."

 

A THREAT FOR WOMEN 

 

Explaining that the protests grew weeker after January, Debeni said that the ban was put into effect right after that. Debeni said: "We don't have a right to abortion right now. It is illegal. If the baby to be born will have a heavy disability or a serious health problem and if we know it will die right after birth, we still have to give birth to it. This is a very bad situation. But we can access abortion pills now, mostly through our own means, but it means that women are much safer today than they were a while ago. Even though it is not that common anymore, illegal abortions can be done and in wierd places, which is extremely dangerous for women. Therefore, I want to underline that there are groups called Abortion Dream Team and Abortion Without Borders. It is vital that women who need an abortion to get in touch with them. Because even though abortion is banned in our country, we know that hundreds of thousands of women are having abortions."

 

'YOU ARE NOT RAPED IF YOU DON'T HAVE A POLICE REPORT'

 

Reminding that according to the law, abortion can be applied in case of rape, Debeni said that you need to have a police report for that. Underlining that most women do not go to the police when they're raped in order not to be victimized by the police, said: "Let's say you were raped and you went to the police to file a report. They victim blame you with questions and accusations about what you were doing there at that time or what you were wearing. Same goes for the courts. Therefore, no one in Poland files a report when they are raped. And when you don't have a police report that proves you were raped, you can't have a legal abortion because legally, the rape hasn't happened. There is also this crazy thing called 'conscious clause'. Let's say you went to the doctor to get a morning after pill, which is an emergency contraception pill. He can refuse to write the prescription because he things this is not moral. Or let's say he did. And you went to the pharmacy. And you have the prescription and the money for the pill. The pharmacist can deny you the pill as well. This crazy law is in effect now."

 

HELPLINE FOR ABORTION

 

Stating that some women's organizations are organizing safe abortions outside of the country for the women who needs one, Debeni underlined: "If you're in Poland and need an abortion, you can reach Abortion Without Borders volunteers from +48 222 922 597 or contact Abortion Dream Team volunteers via kontakt@aborcyjnydreamteam.pl. These organizations supports women psychologically and financially if needed. Every woman who needs an abortion can access this service. We can organize it even though it's banned in Poland. We can protect ourselves and our sisters. We have created the networks for it. We have options. Besides, recently  Scandinavia, Belgium and the Czech Republic announced that they will provide free abortion services for women in Poland in solidarity. This was really great news for all of us. We were already taking women abroad before this with our own means, but this is a good development anyway."

 

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

 

Drawing attention to the fact that such organizations enable the legalization of abortion in countries such as Ireland and Argentina, Debeni said, “We hope to get a similar result. Like we said, if the state does not protect us, we will protect our sisters. International solidarity in very important in this regard. We don't feel left alone in Poland. Women might be unemployed, or simply not ready to be a mother. We demand to have an abortion in cases like these and we don't intend to step back from our demand. Our demand is legal abortion in Poland in any case."

 

WE WILL BE ON THE STREETS ON MARCH 8

 

Underlining that they will express their demand on March 8 again, Debeni said: "We do not disclose the plan because all of our demos are considered to be illegal due to the pandemic. We know that will probably be subjected to violence and get arrested. But everyone is prepared for that. We might block the sreets like we did before. We will get through this and we will protect each other. There is no sexual education in Poland. You might not access morning after pills and abortion is banned. This is crazy. This is also why we have to organize."

 

 

MA / Zemo Ağgöz - Gözde Çağrı Özköse