Mass Women Strikes and Demonstrations all Across Poland: What is Happening in Poland and Why?

Women Strikes In Poland: What is happening and Why?
https://youtu.be/jWlQMQuoes8

Since the fateful decision of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal (Trybunał Konstytucyjny or TK) on October 22, 2020 -- further restricting one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in Europe -- Poland saw massive, spontaneous demonstrations and civic protests in most cities, small and big, and even villages. Protests have been continuing since the day of TK’s decision and show no signs of abating.

To explain what is happening, we have assembled a panel of academics and lawyers to clarify the current legal situation, to analyze the scope of new anti-abortion restrictions, to explain whether this new law may be challenged under any of the EU laws applicable to Poland and what might be political implications of doing that, as well as offer a preliminary cultural, linguistic, anthropological, and sociological analysis of the recent events.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction, Bios of Speakers, Disclaimers: Beginning of the tape until approximately 3.17- minute mark on the tape

LEGAL PANEL

Elizabeth M. Zechenter, J.D., Ph.D. Approximately 3.17 minute until 26 minute mark. "October 2020 Abortion Decision by the Constitutional Tribunal: Analysis and Legal Implications"
Agnieszka Kubal, Ph.D. Approximately 26 minute until 46 minute mark.
"Human Rights Implication of the Decision by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal from 22 October 2020"
Agnieszka Gaertner, J.D., LLM Approximately 46 minute until 59 minute mark. "Abortion Under EU Law"

CULTURE AND LANGUAGE OF PROTEST PANEL

Katarzyna Zechenter, Ph.D. Approximately 59 minute until 1hr. 31 minute mark. "Uses of Language by the Protesters, the Polish Catholic Church, and the Ruling Political Party “Law and Justice” (PiS)"


SOCIOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL PANEL

Joanna Regulska, Ph.D. Approximately 1 hr. 31 minute until 1.hr 49 minute mark. "Struggle for Women's Rights in Poland"
Helena Chmielewska-Szlajfer, Ph.D. Approximately 1 hr. 49 minute until 2hrs 12 minute mark. "Augmented Reality, Young Adults, and Civic Engagement"

PRAISE for the WEBINAR

"Wow! That was, without a doubt, one of the most informative, fascinating, engaging, and powerful webinars I have ever attended."

"All of us in your virtual audience "voted with our feet" . . . i.e., it is generally considered that 90 minutes is an audience's absolute maximum attention span for an online webinar, particularly since everyone these days is simply "Zoomed-out" (over-Zoomed), in this era of COVID-19. But YOUR audience stayed with you for a marathon 2 hours and 45 minutes (and it felt like a sprint, not a marathon)!"

"A high tribute to you and your sister (not fellow!) panelists."


DISCLAIMERS

The webinar was organized impromptu in response to numerous calls to analyze Poland's ongoing protests. The goal of the webinar was to provide a non-partisan review of the evolving situation and better understand the legal, cultural, and sociological underpinnings of the Constitutional Tribunal’s anti-abortion decision that resulted in such massive country-wide protests.

The opinions expressed in the seminar are those of the speakers alone who are not speaking as representatives of any institution; the main goal has been to advance understanding of the situation.

Given the urgency to offer at least a preliminary analysis (and in light of the continuously evolving situation), most speakers had less than 24 hours to prepare their remarks. We apologize for any imperfections.