Christian Borys is a Canadian journalist who splits his time between Canada, Ukraine, and Poland.

Poland’s Massive Abortion Protest Shows That Citizens Are Frustrated With The Country’s Rightward Surge

12 Oct 2016  |  HuffPost  |  English  |  Political Divide

Poland's recent massive abortion protest reflects widespread frustration with the country's rightward political shift under the Law and Justice party. The protest, organized by the left-wing Razem party, successfully halted a proposed abortion ban. The event is part of a broader trend of liberal opposition to perceived authoritarianism and erosion of democratic values in Poland. The European Union has launched an investigation into constitutional changes by the ruling party. The article highlights the deep political divide in Poland, with significant opposition from both liberal citizens and organizations like Amnesty International against the conservative agenda of groups like Ordo Iuris.

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Ordo Iuris Law and Justice party Razem party European Union Civic Platform Amnesty International Bishops’ Conference

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Juliette Bretan is a journalist, covering Polish and CEE current affairs, society, environment and culture.

Family with autistic son seek asylum in Poland after fleeing Netherlands

22 Jul 2020  |  notesfrompoland.com  |  English  |  Legal Issues

A family fled the Netherlands to Poland seeking asylum after their autistic son was placed in foster care due to neglect allegations. Represented by Ordo Iuris, the family claims the Dutch authorities misinterpreted their son's autism as neglect. They are currently in hiding while applying for asylum, with a European Arrest Warrant issued against them. The case is part of a broader trend of families from Western Europe seeking protection in Poland to avoid child welfare interventions.

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Ordo Iuris Polish government Dutch authorities Norwegian Barnevernet child welfare services

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Amanda Coakley is an award-winning journalist covering central and eastern Europe, and a Europe’s Futures Fellow at the IWM in Vienna. 

Her work has been published in national and international outlets including Foreign Policy, TIME, The Irish Times, Prospect Magazine, The Independent, New ...

A new college in Poland aims to produce a godly elite

01 Oct 2023  |  newhumanist.org.uk  |  English  |  Religion

Collegium Intermarium, a new college in Warsaw, aims to cultivate a new generation of ultra-conservative elites in Europe, promoting classical values and opposing liberal ideologies. The institution is closely linked to Ordo Iuris, a legal organization influential in Poland's conservative policies, including the rollback of women's reproductive rights and anti-LGBTQ+ measures. Despite its small size, the college aspires to have a significant impact on European society, drawing students from central European countries. The article highlights the broader cultural and political implications of this conservative educational initiative.

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Ordo Iuris Collegium Intermarium Law and Justice party (PiS) European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights Patrick Henry College

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Adam Easton has been the BBC correspondent in Warsaw since 2003. Before that he was the BBC correspondent in Caracas during the turbulent early years of the Chavez administration. Before that he was the correspondent for the Guardian newspaper in Manila. He got his start in local newspapers and ...

Polish MPs debate liberalising right to abortion on demand

05 Oct 2023  |  BBC  |  English  |  Polish Politics

Polish MPs engaged in a significant debate on liberalizing abortion laws, which are among the most restrictive in the EU. The discussion highlighted a divide between those advocating for women's rights and those opposing abortion on demand. The previous government's tightening of abortion laws, supported by the Catholic Church, sparked widespread protests. The new prime minister, Donald Tusk, has promised to introduce abortion on demand, but his coalition is divided on the extent of liberalization. The debate reflects broader societal tensions in Poland regarding abortion rights.

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Ordo Iuris Law and Justice Constitutional Tribunal Federa Sovereign Poland Civic Coalition

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Miroslava Germanova is a journalist based in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Democracy Digest: Visegrad Four Leaders Claim Victory at EU Summit

24 Jul 2020  |  Balkan Insight  |  English  |  Murder Trial

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed victory at the EU summit, securing significant funds while opposing rule-of-law conditionalities. Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski announced plans for a new civic movement following his narrow presidential election loss. Poland considers withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, criticized by conservative groups. Hungarian media remains divided over the EU summit results, and concerns grow over media independence following the firing of Index.hu's editor-in-chief. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis declared the EU summit outcome favorable for the Czech Republic, while Slovakia faces a series of plagiarism scandals involving top politicians. The trial for the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée nears its conclusion, with significant public and media attention.

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Ordo Iuris European Council Council of Europe Visegrad Four European Commission Civic Coalition ANO movement We are Family party Slovak National Party Comenius University Slovak Supreme Court

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I'm a multimedia reporter and writer. I have covered social change, conflict and rights in more than ten countries across the Middle East and Europe while based out of London, Rome and the West Bank.

I'm experienced across all aspects of digital journalism - from filing breaking news to ...

The mental health cost of Poland’s abortion ban

22 Aug 2021  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Women's Rights

The article explores the mental health impact of Poland's near-total abortion ban, focusing on the personal story of Dominika Biernat, who faced significant challenges due to the restrictive laws. The ban, enforced by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal, has sparked widespread protests and criticism, highlighting the influence of the Catholic Church and the Law and Justice (PiS) party in Polish politics. Women's rights organizations, like FEDERA, continue to support affected women, while conservative groups like Ordo Iuris push for stricter laws. The article underscores the broader implications of the ban on women's rights and mental health in Poland.

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Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture Polish Constitutional Tribunal Law and Justice (PiS) party Catholic Church Federation of Women and Family Planning (FEDERA) European Union

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Una Hajdari is an independent reporter largely focused on Central and Eastern Europe with experience in covering news on economic and political developments, as well as the far-right, nationalism and identity politics.

Poland's LGBT-Free Zones and the Fight for Human Rights

05 Apr 2023  |  euronews  |  English  |  Discrimination and EU Funding

The article discusses the ongoing issue of 'LGBT-Free Zones' in Poland, which were established by various towns and cities in 2019. Despite efforts by activists and legal experts to revoke these declarations, progress has been slow due to Poland's rule-of-law crisis, which began with the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party's influence on the judiciary since 2017. The European Union has taken legal action against Poland for breaching EU values, but Poland has ignored the rulings. The country's Human Rights Ombudsman, Marcin Wiącek, is now suing municipalities like Tuszów Narodowy for maintaining their anti-LGBT resolutions, arguing that they violate the constitution, international law, and create an exclusionary atmosphere. The EU is also concerned about the use of its funds in regions that promote discrimination. The article highlights the deep-seated conservative values in Poland, the involvement of the Catholic Church, and the role of the conservative organization Ordo Iuris in promoting these zones.

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Ordo Iuris European Commission European Court of Justice Office of the Ombudsman Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy Supreme Administrative Court

Edward Szekeres is a freelance journalist based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Well-versed in fixing, feature writing, interviewing and breaking news.

V4 ‘Family Declaration’ Seen as Vehicle for Social Conservative Drive in EU

02 Jun 2021  |  Balkan Insight  |  English  |  Family Policies

The Visegrad Group's Declaration Pro Familia, driven by Poland's nationalist-populist government, aims to promote traditional family values and restrict women's and LGBT rights. The initiative, supported by Hungary and Slovakia, contrasts with Czechia's more liberal stance. Poland and Hungary's pro-family policies are part of a broader conservative agenda, seeking to influence EU policymaking. The declaration has raised concerns about its potential to advance a regressive social agenda within the EU.

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Ordo Iuris Visegrad Group Law and Justice (PiS) European Commission

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Emily Tamkin is a journalist based in Washington, United States of America.

A line on dissent

03 Nov 2023  |  emilyctamkin.substack.com  |  English  |  Israel-Palestine conflict

The newsletter covers a range of topics including American Jewish fear, declining Arab American support for President Joe Biden, the Financial Times' call for a ceasefire, mass deportation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and the aftermath of Poland's recent elections. It also delves into the Soviet dissident movement, Holocaust memory, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The author reflects on the importance of dissent and highlights various perspectives on current events, particularly those affecting Jewish communities.

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Ordo Iuris Financial Times Polish government Slate Jewish Currents New Yorker Haaretz

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