Poland abortion law enforcement

In mid‑July 2026 Polish authorities continued to enforce the country's restrictive abortion legislation. On July 15, activist and doula Justyna Wydrzyńska was sentenced to eight months of community service for providing information and medication to women seeking self‑managed abortions, a verdict that remains under appeal and has drawn criticism from human‑rights groups.

A week later, new controversies emerged. In Wrocław, the appointment of obstetrician Gizela Jagielska—known for performing late‑term abortions—to the city’s largest perinatal centre provoked protests from medical staff and political figures, who argued she was unfit for a maternity ward. Meanwhile, a district court in Łódź upheld a decision that a pregnant woman hired as a cleaner was employed solely to obtain maternity benefits, rejecting her claim for compensation. Both incidents illustrate the ongoing legal and societal battles surrounding reproductive rights and related employment practices in Poland.