They have been raped by Russian soldiers who invaded Ukraine and became pregnant. Or, again, they have understood that the circumstances are too difficult and complex to carry on a pregnancy. Many Ukrainian women are trying to resort to abortion right now. But, to those who are refugees in Poland to escape war, this right is not recognized.
Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. The termination of pregnancy is only legal when the health or life of pregnant women is at risk and, but only in theory, when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Abortion or possession of abortion pills for self-managed abortion is not a crime under Polish law, but any person who helps pregnant women to have an abortion, except for the two reasons permitted by law, can risk up to three years in prison.
In practice, however, things are different, as explained by activist Oleksandra Matviichuk, promoter of the Center for Civil Liberties and consultant to Parliament. «Ukrainian women who were raped by the Russians and find themselves in Poland they cannot have an abortion in the country. According to Polish law, abortion is allowed in cases of rape, but there is still no criminal case»That justifies the need for the service, he writes on Twitter. «Psychologists in Poland try to convince her that a new life is something wonderful. And thus they destroy the life of both of them ».
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Matviichuk, together with the other activists, has mobilized to try to resolve the situation. “We talked to our colleagues in Poland. They will conduct an information campaign so that victims of sexual violence know where to turn and how they can leave Poland if necessary. So long as rape is the crime that is most hidden, we don’t know all those who need help ”.
Strict Polish abortion laws and lack of availability of abortion pills after along the Ukrainian-Polish border are pushing doctors and volunteers to mobilize and secretly distribute these drugs to raped womenat the risk of ending up in prison.
“We are taking a colossal risk by making these pills available to women in Ukraine who have been raped,” she tells The Quint a Polish gynecologist who works with trusted volunteers to prescribe and distribute abortion pills. “In Poland, qThese pills are only legal when there is a prescription. And it is almost impossible for Ukrainian refugee women get it “.
A volunteer who helps with the distribution of abortion pills explains: “In Poland, since abortion is not an option for rape victims, the life of women is less than a cell has not yet transformed into a fetus. IS a huge risk that we are all takingbut in the absence of a government to take care of cases like these, the survivors are left with only secret groups like ours, which can help them ».
Other stories of Vanity Fair that might interest you:
– War in Ukraine
Source: Vanity Fair
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