- Title: 'We are at war': Poles mark Women's Day with abortion rights protest
- Date: 8th March 2021
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (MARCH 8, 2021) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ***WARNING: CONTAINS PROFANITY*** SIGN WITH SYMBOL OF 'STRAJK KOBIET' ('WOMEN'S STRIKE') PROTEST ORGANISATION VARIOUS OF PRO-CHOICE PROTESTERS BEHIND BANNER WITH TEXT READING (Polish): "FUCK OFF" PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "HER BODY HER CHOICE" POLICE OFFICERS GATHERING NEAR P
- Embargoed: 22nd March 2021 18:53
- Keywords: International Women's Day Poland Women's day Women's rights Women's strike abortion laws demonstration feminism pregnancy
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Fundamental Rights/Civil Liberties,Europe,Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001E3847RB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT INCLUDES PROFANITY IN SHOTS 2, 7, AND 10 AND A GRAPHIC IMAGE OF A DEAD FETUS IN SHOT 20
Poles took to the streets on Monday (March 8) to mark International Women's Day, in demonstrations around the country that took on added significance months after a constitutional court banned almost all abortions.
In Warsaw, several dozen protesters brandishing placards with slogans such as "Her body, Her choice" gathered in the city centre, where they were outnumbered by a heavy police presence.
As police formed a cordon around the protesters, speech therapist Aleksandra Gajek, 24, called it an intimidation tactic. A police spokesman told Reuters by phone the officers were trying to keep traffic moving.
Previous protests organised by the Women's Strike movement, which opposes the tightening of restrictions regarding abortion, have been marred by violence, with the police criticised for heavy-handed tactics.
Women's Strike co-founder Klementyna Suchanow said International Women's Day now had "the significance of a battle" rather than a celebration in Poland.
The October ruling, which took effect in January, unleashed a wave of protests that has morphed into broader anger at the government, particularly among young people.
Recent protests have been much smaller, but the ruling Law and Justice party's ratings in most opinion polls have slipped to around 30% from more than 40% in August.
(Production: Kuba Stezycki, Anna Dabrowska, Lewis Macdonald) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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