Tens of Thousands Rally Across Poland Demanding Legal Access to Abortion Services

Demonstrators gathered on the sixth anniversary of a near-total abortion ban imposed by Poland’s highest court.

By AFP and The Associated Press

Published On 23 Oct 2026

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in over 20 towns and cities across Poland, demanding access to free and legal abortion services.

The protests coincided with the sixth anniversary of a near-total abortion ban imposed by Poland’s highest court.

Currently, abortion is only legal in Poland when a pregnancy results from a criminal act such as rape or incest, or when it endangers the life or health of the mother.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government pledged to liberalize abortion laws ahead of its 2023 electoral victory, but internal coalition disagreements have slowed legislative progress.

The demonstrations follow recent parliamentary approval of two bills aimed at relaxing abortion restrictions in the predominantly Catholic nation. However, these measures are expected to be vetoed by Poland’s conservative President Karol Nawrocki.

Passing the draft laws just a year before the next parliamentary elections amounts to “token gestures” rather than meaningful reform, said Zofia Marcinek of the Abortion Dream Team, a Warsaw-based reproductive rights advocacy organization.

Marcinek argued that the liberal government was aware the drafts would not survive Nawrocki’s veto, and was primarily seeking to project an image of action to gain female voter support ahead of next year’s elections.

In Warsaw, approximately 1,000 protesters gathered outside parliament despite heavy rain.

“Over the past six years, nothing has truly changed,” said 36-year-old Emilia Niemiec, who runs the AboTak abortion center, which offers women access to resources including medication and support for at-home procedures.

Strict Abortion Laws in Place Since 1993

Restrictive abortion laws have governed Poland since 1993, with Polish women continuously advocating for legalization since then. Nationwide protests occurred in 2016, with participants wearing black garments as a symbol of dissent.

Instead of easing restrictions, Poland further tightened its abortion laws in 2020 under the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government, banning terminations for fetuses with congenital defects.

Despite legal restrictions, abortions remain widespread in Poland, with the majority performed at home using pills obtained illegally from abroad. While women who undergo abortions are not criminally liable under Polish law, individuals assisting them—including doctors and family members—may face prosecution.

According to data from the National Health Fund, Polish hospitals conducted 573 abortions during the first half of 2026, compared to 452 throughout all of 2022 prior to Tusk assuming office. Activists estimate tens of thousands of additional procedures occur annually outside of hospitals.

Organizers of Thursday’s protests claim the Tusk government has failed to deliver on its promises to Polish women—and that official statements about improved access to abortion have actually made it harder for some women to obtain care.

“The government’s promises serve as a form of disinformation,” Marcinek stated. “Women hear the prime minister assure them that access exists, but when they arrive at hospitals, they find otherwise. As a result, they turn to us late in the process—when care becomes considerably more complex and costly.”

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