ROME – On the abortion ban in Poland, the deputy of the Five Star Movement Maria Edera Spadoni turned to Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio and highlighted the necessity of giving protection to Ukrainian refugees raped by the Russian soldiers during the war.

 “My question addresses the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Di Maio, to ask what Italy is doing to protect Ukrainian women who have become pregnant, following violence inflicted on them by the Russians and those who have fled to Poland where they are denied the right to abortion," said Maria Edera Spadoni.

 Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many Ukrainian women have reported gender-based violence from Russian soldiers such as harassment, sexual abuse, and rape. Ukrainian women who have suffered sexual assault and managed to escape to Poland are now faced with another problem. In Poland, they cannot undergo an abortion.

 In January 2021, during the pandemic, highly restrictive abortion regulations entered into force in Poland, which practically prohibit voluntary termination of pregnancy. The unique exception is the case of incest, life threatening for the mother, or rape. However, it is very difficult for Ukrainian women to prove to a judge that they have become pregnant after being raped by soldiers. Therefore, in Poland, the possibility of terminating a pregnancy as a result of rape does not really exist.

 “Having been raped during the war, they have no chance of receiving ‘confirmation’ that the crime was committed against them. In Poland, they do not have opportunity to prove that they have been through the hell,” continues the deputy of the Five Star Movement.

 Spadoni also recalled that some Ukrainian women who found out that an abortion is illegal in Poland, decided to stay in war-torn Ukraine. In Ukraine, voluntary termination of pregnancy is possible for up to 12 weeks. "Unfortunately, the situation is drastic: Ukrainian women who fled to Poland are confused and frightened. I hope that our country, alongside the international community, can intervene so that this situation can be dealt with as soon as possible," concluded Maria Edera Spadoni.

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