Published: 12.09.2013
With this achievement “One of us” becomes the second European Citizens’ Initiative to reach the requirements established by the Commission.
Today 1.013.182 European citizens that want to express the concern of European society as a whole on the need of greater protection of the human embryo. We are closer to our objective, namely to change the future of the embryonic stem cell research industry across Europe, defend the life of the weakest and protect human life.
ECI rules petitions require a minimum number of signatures in at least 7 member states. As of today, 11 countries (Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have fulfilled this requirement.
The desired outcome of the initiative is a concrete ban of life-destroying policies in the EU budget, as well as a political change and greater awareness of the need to respect the wish of so many European citizens. Furthermore, jurisdiction at the European Court of Human Rights, where many bioethical cases are pending, could be positively influenced.
On February 13, the Court of Appeals in Warsaw overturned an earlier verdict convicting Justyna Wydrzyńska, a well-known abortion activist from the so-called Abortion Dream Team, of assisting in a medical abortion.
In March 2023, the Warsaw-Praga Regional Court had sentenced this activist to community service for giving abortion pills to a woman who was pregnant with twins. It was a high-profile case that was reported in the international media.
• The trial of Justyna Wydrzyńska, an activist from the Abortion Dream Team group who was convicted of aiding and abetting a medical abortion, took place in the Court of Appeals in Warsaw.
• The European Parliament will debate the draft recommendations of the EU Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM).
On November 8, the Polish Sejm voted on a bill decriminalizing both the performance and the aiding and abetting of illegal abortions. The Left’s radically pro-abortion bill was thus sent for further parliamentary work.
© 2016 ORDO IURIS - Instytut Na Rzecz Kultury Prawnej
