Poland fined over abortion

Lawyers say country shocked about decision

Pro-life activists demonstrate in front the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, over an abortion issue. CNS photo / Vincent Kessler, Reuters.

Catholic News Agency reports that the European Court of Human Rights fined Poland $80,000 U.S. dollars Oct. 30 for denying an abortion to a girl who was allegedly raped as a 14-year-old in 2008.

Anette Ignatowicz, a former policy adviser for European Dignity Watch, an organization which investigates EU institutions, weighed in that the court's fine "is yet another attempt to push legalizing abortion in Poland."

"It's enough to look at the Centre for Reproductive Rights website to see the cases titled 'high-impact cases' seek to strengthen legal protections for women's reproductive rights in courts and human rights bodies around the world," Ignatowicz said.

According to statistics, Poland is pro-life, and the tendency is growing, with 76 per cent of Poles aged 15 to 24 favouring a total ban on abortion.

For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.