State-enabled intimidation: How anti-abortion extremism is undermining legal healthcare in Poland
Anti-abortion extremism in Poland is increasingly affecting access to lawful reproductive healthcare, according to a new analysis by the Astra Network. While abortion remains legally restricted in Poland, women and healthcare providers who attempt to operate within the legal framework are facing growing hostility, intimidation, and obstacles that go beyond the letter of the law.
The report describes how far-right and anti-abortion activists employ a range of tactics—including public shaming, doxxing, threatening letters, protests outside clinics, and online harassment—to create an atmosphere of fear. These efforts are not limited to fringe groups; in many cases they are enabled or tolerated by local authorities, law enforcement, and public officials, which emboldens extremist tactics and undermines legal protections for patients and providers.
One of the most troubling trends highlighted in the report is the targeting of individuals who assist pregnant people in navigating Poland’s complex legal abortion system. Volunteers, counsellors, physicians, and even translators have been exposed to personal attacks, threats, or legal harassment simply for providing information about legal options. As a result, many health professionals now avoid offering guidance to avoid becoming targets themselves, further restricting access to safe and lawful care.
The report also reveals how public institutions sometimes implicitly support extremist narratives. Instead of safeguarding patient rights, certain officials have echoed anti-abortion rhetoric or failed to intervene when clinics are harassed, creating the impression that such intimidation is acceptable. This “state-enabled” environment makes it harder for women to exercise their legal rights and for healthcare providers to fulfil their professional obligations.
Astra’s analysis calls for stronger enforcement of existing protections, clear accountability for harassment, and proactive measures to protect both patients and healthcare workers. Without such steps, the report warns, extremist intimidation will continue to shrink the space for lawful reproductive healthcare in Poland and leave women with even fewer safe options.
The full report highlights the need for vigilance, legal safeguards, and public education to counteract the erosion of reproductive rights and ensure that legal care remains accessible and protected.
