Letter sent by PRO VITA Bucharest to the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, in support of the recent decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland, rendering eugenic abortion as contrary to the Constitution.
UPDATE Nov. 19th, 2020: The letter of response from HE Ambassador Lang can be read here.
Embassy of the Republic of Poland to Romania
Aleea Alexandru, nr. 23, sector 1, Bucharest
HE Maciej Lang
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Romania
Your Excellency,
We would like to express our gratitude for the fact that your country, Poland, persistently defends the right of every citizen, and thus of the citizens of the European Union, to enjoy legal guarantees of the protection of their right to life under Polish law, from conception to natural death.
We welcome the recent decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland, rendering eugenic abortion as contrary to the Constitution and thus establishing real equality under the law between people with and without disabilities or illnesses.
A State would contradict itself if – on one hand – it affirms that persons with disabilities have the same rights as others, and – on the other – allows their systematic elimination before birth on the basis of their health condition.
The possibility of terminating an unborn baby – up to his/her birth – on the basis of their illness or disability is a serious violation of human rights. Indeed, as the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recalled on October 6th 2017,
“Laws which explicitly allow for abortion on grounds of impairment violate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Art. 4, 5, 8). Even if the condition is considered fatal, there is still a decision made on the basis of impairment. Often it cannot be said if an impairment is fatal. Experience shows that assessments on impairment conditions are often false. Even if it is not false, the assessment perpetuates notions of stereotyping disability as incompatible with a good life.”
By restoring equality between disabled and non-disabled humans beings, the Constitutional Tribunal brings domestic law into conformity not only with the Constitution, but with the international law itself.
The Republic of Poland becomes, in this respect, a model to be followed by countries all around the world. Indeed, we call upon the government of Romania to also enforce efficient legislation for protecting unborn children with disabilities.
We would also like to express our support to Poland and its citizens defending the institutions and places of worship against vandalism and violence perpetrated by the far-left in a backlash against the decision of the Tribunal.
We respectfully ask the Polish Government to enforce the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal, which will save countless lives and will hopefully contribute to making European society more welcoming to people with disabilities, advancing human rights in their genuine, meaningful interpretation.
Sincerely,
Bogdan Stanciu
Chairman