No total ban on abortion in Poland after mass protests

Demonstration by women ‘taught us humility’, says science and education minister

Thousands of people  protest against plans for a total ban on abortion in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Photograph: Slawomir Kaminski/Agencja Gazeta/Reuters
Thousands of people protest against plans for a total ban on abortion in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Photograph: Slawomir Kaminski/Agencja Gazeta/Reuters

A Polish government minister has said there will be no total ban on abortion following mass protests against the proposal. Science and higher education minister Jaroslaw Gowin said the demonstration by thousands of women had "caused us to think and taught us humility".

The comments appear to indicate Poland’s conservative leadership will withhold support from the highly unpopular proposal to ban abortions, even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk. The right-wing government, led by the Law and Justice party, is also under international pressure not to move forward with the idea. – (AP)