Poland's Constitutional Court Changed Abortion Laws

The Constitutional Court in Warsaw has ruled that abortions due to severe malformations of the unborn child are not compatible with the Polish constitution. The judges declared a corresponding regulation from 1993 unconstitutional. The ruling is final and is likely to significantly reduce the number of legal abortions in the country. This was reported by EWTN News. Previously, abortions in Poland were permitted in three cases: after rape or incest, when there is danger to the mother's life, and in cases of severe and irreversible diseases of the child. The majority of the approximately 1,000 legal procedures performed annually were recently carried out due to medical diagnoses of the unborn child. Even after this decision, abortions remain permissible in cases of criminal acts or when there is danger to the mother's life.

The decision met with different reactions. Representatives of the Catholic Church and pro-life organizations welcomed the ruling and emphasized the protection of human life. Human rights organizations and international observers, however, expressed criticism and pointed to possible restrictions on women's rights.

Previously, UOJ reported that according to a study, abortion in one's twenties can result in later childlessness.

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