Marches in Poland mark Int'l Women's Day

Protesters outside the governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party’s headquarters are demanding “full reproductive rights” following a recently-passed law which makes hormonal contraceptives and the morning-after pill available by prescription-only.

Objections also extend to Poland’s strict abortion policy.

Other demands include “a country free from superstitions, the implementation of an anti-violence convention and the improvement of the financial situation of women”.

Protesters were met with pro-life activists carrying banners which read “End abortions”.

Additional demonstrations are set to take place in more than 80 Polish town and cities, planned by the International Women’s Strike organisation set up last year in response to a bill that would further tighten Poland’s abortion laws.

Those protests are expected to come to a high at 6:00 pm with women taking to the streets and bang pots and pans.

Meanwhile, the Polish defence minister met with women in official celebrations of the day, handing flowers to a number of female soldiers.

Poland’s interior minister has also held an official meeting with the country’s female civil servants.

International Women’s Day was initiated by US socialists in 1910 to commemorate the victims of civil and worker’s rights movements in New York.

Poles mark the day with gift-giving, mainly of carnations and chocolates. (vb/rg)

Source: PAP