To our Esteemed colleagues of the Polish Parliament
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October 3rd 2016
Reykjavík, Iceland
To:
Our Esteemed colleagues of the Polish Parliament,
The undersigned Members of Parliament of Iceland write this letter to voice our deep concern over a proposed law criminalizing all use of abortions in Poland. Access to appropriate prenatal care is essential for women’s rights in the world, whether it be prenatal screening or abortion. We appeal to the Polish Parliament to withdraw the proposed law from the legislative process and seek a compromise that better protects women’s rights to reproductive health.
We wish to remind the Polish Parliament of the shared international obligation and responsibility that both Iceland and Poland have undertaken to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. As signatories to the Convention on this important issue, both our countries have pledged to ensure that women have equal access to health care services, including those related to family planning. We seek to emphasize the value and importance of international agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women for its important role in combating social issues such as gender inequality, poverty and health issues.
Finally, we would like to impart our view that access to safe abortions is an essential part of women´s right to physical and mental autonomy. Furthermore, we want to draw your attention to the ample evidence proving that restricting women’s health care has a negative impact on the welfare of entire families. In countries where access to women’s health services is restricted, outcomes for infant and maternal health are worse, including higher maternal and infant mortality rates. In cases where fatal birth defects are present, patients and doctors must be free to make the decision that saves the life of the mother.
In light of the above considerations, we strongly encourage you to withdraw this law from the parliamentary process and seek to find a legislative compromise that better protects women’s rights to reproductive health than the current proposal.
Sincerely,
Ásta Guðrún Helgadóttir, Member of Parliament
Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Minister of Industry and Commerce
Svandís Svavarsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Oddný Harðardóttir, Member of Parliament
Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir, Member of Parliament
Guðmundur Steingrímsson, Member of Parliament
Björt Ólafsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Brynhildur Pétursdóttir, Member of Parliament
Ögmundur Jónasson, Member of Parliament
Jóhanna María Sigmundsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Össur Skarphéðinsson, Member of Parliament
Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, Member of Parliament
Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Óttarr Proppé, Member of Parliament
Birgitta Jónsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Katrín Júlíusdóttir, Member of Parliament
Ólína Kjerúlf Þorvarðardóttir, Member of Parliament
Árni Páll Árnason, Member of Parliament
Elsa Lára Arnardóttir, Member of Parliament
Líneik Anna Sævarsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Karl Garðarsson, Member of Parliament
Páll Valur Björnsson, Member of Parliament
Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir, Member of Parliament
Helgi Hjörvar, Member of Parliament
Róbert Marshall, Member of Parliament
Birgir Ármannsson, Member of Parliament
Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, Member of Parliament
Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Kristján L. Möller, Member of Parliament
Unnur Brá Konráðsdóttir, Member of Parliament
Vilhjálmur Árnason, Member of Parliament
Valgerður Bjarnadóttir, Member of Parliament
Elín Hirst, Member of Parliament
With the provision that more signatories will be added on later today or early tomorrow.
This letter will formally be submitted to the Polish Ambassador tomorrow.
