In a renewed appeal, United Nations experts have called on Poland to acquit Justyna Wydrzyńska, a prominent abortion rights activist, as she faces a retrial. Wydrzyńska was previously sentenced to eight months of community service for what authorities classified as “helping with an abortion” and “possession of medicines without authorization” after she assisted a domestic violence victim in accessing abortion medication in 2020. Her sentence was overturned in February 2025 following concerns over judicial impartiality, prompting a retrial by the Warsaw Court of Appeal. For further details on Wydrzyńska’s retrial, visit the original report.
The UN’s intervention underscores the precarious nature of abortion rights in Poland, where laws are typically restrictive, allowing terminations only in specific circumstances such as threats to the pregnant person’s life or in cases of rape or incest. The UN experts argue that Wydrzyńska and individuals like her are essential in addressing the gap in safe abortion access, which remains limited in practice despite its theoretical legality. More details on the advocacy by UN experts can be found in their press release.
Wydrzyńska’s activism stems from a long history of advocating for reproductive rights. She founded “Women on the Net” in 2006, Poland’s first online resource for women seeking information on safe abortions and contraceptive methods. Her current association with the Abortion Dream Team involves raising awareness about abortion stigma and providing support and information to those in need.
Rights organizations worldwide have backed Wydrzyńska, urging Poland to reverse her conviction, arguing her actions serve as vital support for many without access to essential reproductive health services. They continue to emphasize the need for Poland to comply with international standards by amending its legislation to decriminalize abortion, recognizing the rights to accessible and safe reproductive healthcare as fundamental.
Poland’s abortion laws remain among the strictest in Europe, with very few legal routes available for obtaining an abortion. Although self-managed abortions and possession of abortion medication are not criminal offenses under Polish law, providing external assistance during an abortion sits in a gray area of illegality, a stance criticized by local and international rights groups. For more on Poland’s abortion laws, you can read about them in detail here.