Thousands protest across Poland for access to free and legal abortions

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in more than 20 towns and cities across Poland, demanding access to free and legal abortion on the sixth anniversary of a near-total ban imposed by the country's highest court.

In Warsaw, about 1,000 protesters gathered in front of parliament despite rain, chanting slogans and holding placards reading "How much longer do we have to wait?" Young demonstrators called on the government to keep its promises to decriminalise abortion.

Poland has some of Europe's strictest abortion rules. Restrictive laws have been in place since 1993, and were tightened further when the constitutional court imposed a near-total ban six years ago. Abortion is now legal only in limited cases, such as when a pregnancy results from a criminal act like rape or when it endangers the woman's life.

The protests came days after parliament passed two bills that would ease the restrictions. But campaigners accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government of token gestures, saying it knew the drafts stood no chance of surviving the president's veto. Organisers said the liberal government had betrayed Polish women, with one calling official promises "a type of disinformation."

"Over the last six years, nothing has really changed," 36-year-old protester Emilia Niemiec told reporters.

Tusk's government promised to liberalise the law before winning the 2023 election, but with a parliamentary vote due next year, activists say the issue has once again exposed the gap between promises and delivery.