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Three Polish feminists on trial for pro-abortion protests have been found not-guilty. Although positive news, this is not a complete win for activists around the world. Marta Lempart, Klementyna Suchanow and Agnieszka Czerederecka-Fabin - three leading women’s rights defenders from the Polish Women's Strike were facing eight years in prison in Poland for exercising their right to peaceful protest. At today’s trial they were found not guilty. Though the not guilty verdict is a relief, we can’t ignore the fact that this trial never should have happened in the first place. These women’s rights defenders were unfairly targeted because of their work, with the prosecution attempting to use the courts as a tool of intimidation. Defending reproductive rights is not a crime. It is deeply troubling that they were subjected to a sham trial that not only robbed them of time, energy and money, but also affected their mental well-being. Cases like this are designed to silence activists. They are a dangerous attack on fundamental human rights and democratic values.     In future, we urge the Polish government, and all governments, to focus on protecting rights, not prosecuting those who defend them.   Marta Lempart said "I'm looking forward to going back to work. Thank you for all the solidarity from the international community."

Date: 3.10.2024 Time: 12.00 Courtroom: 224 Location: District Court in Warsaw, Solidarności 127 Press briefing after the verdict.   The criminal case against Polish Women's Strike pro abortion protests’ (2020) leaders is finally coming to an end in the District Court in Warsaw, Poland. Marta Lempart, Agnieszka Czerederecka and Klementyna Suchanow are charged under Article 165 of the Penal Code (endangering the public by organizing protests)  and Women's Strike leader Marta Lempart is additionally charged under Article 226 and Article 255 of the Penal Code. All three women face up to 8 years in prison. The announcement of the verdict will take place on October 3rd at noon in the District Court in Warsaw at 127 Solidarności Avenue (room: 224). This date is significant and symbolic for the entire movement that the Polish Women's Strike is. It was on October 3rd, 2016 that the Women's Strike organized the first mass protests in Poland in defense of abortion rights, which went down in history as Black Monday. At that time, women took to the streets of more than 160 cities and towns dressed in black in protest against the tightening of abortion law in Poland. On the 8th anniversary of the first Polish Women’s Strike protest (2016), activists will hear the verdict for their involvement in the 2020 100-days stress protests, brutally suppressed by the state police and secret services. It will be a verdict for their years of fighting in the streets, for the many days and nights spent protesting, in police cauldrons and in police detention. Judgment for their courage and determination, for their eyes burning with pain from the police gas, for their arms broken during the demonstrations, their spines physically damaged from the police batons. The judgment will therefore be symbolic not only for the anniversary of the Women's Strike, but above all for the fight for women's rights in contemporary Poland. The verdict will show which way we are heading - towards the shameful direction of maternity wards where women are dying, or towards the civilized part of Europe. Marta Lempart: Please be with us on that day. It is important that not only we, but also others who are still being dragged through the courts, know that they are not walking alone. Whatever happens this October 3rd or afterwards. See you there!   Media contact: +48 577 099 077 Marta Lempart [email protected]