The European Parliament (EP) has passed a resolution instructing Poland to change its current laws protecting the right to life and legalize abortion. The resolution, which passed by a vote of 373 to 124 votes with 55 abstentions, based its argument on the recent death of a 30-year-old Polish woman who died of sepsis poisoning following complications of pregnancy. A ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal last October banned abortions for fetal anomalies, though they are still allowed in cases of rape and the life of the mother. Abortion activists are using the woman’s tragic death in their campaign for legal and free abortion. 

Colombia’s House of Representatives has voted to reject a bill legalizing euthanasia for the third time. The vote counters a ruling this past July by Colombia’s Constitutional Court that made euthanasia available to people with non-terminal illnesses, though Colombia does not have a law permitting euthanasia. The decision was strongly criticized for being out of the realm of the court’s jurisdiction- that it was trying to legislate through its rulings. “This is the third time in almost two years that a euthanasia bill has been sunk. And this is very important because it indicates that the Colombian people, through their representatives in Congress, reject attacks against human life from fertilization to natural death,” said pro-life leader Jesús Magaña. The vote failed by a vote of 78 against and 65 for the bill. 

A pro-life bill to extend the waiting period before an abortion failed to pass the Slovak parliament by one vote. Sponsored by Anna Záborská, the proposed legislation would have expanded the waiting period from 48 hours to 96 hours, offered funding for new mothers, and banned advertising for abortions. “A responsible decision is a decision based on facts. This is also what our bill brings,” explained Záborská on her Facebook page. “Within a year, women will receive from the doctor not only information of a medical nature, but also what social, financial, psychological support they can receive if they deliver their child”. Abortion in Slovakia is available on demand for the first trimester of pregnancy and later in cases of risks to the mother’s life.

The recently elected New South Wales (NSW) Premier, Dominc Perrottet, has voiced his opposition to the assisted suicide bill currently being considered by parliament. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill of 2021 would permit assisted suicide for persons suffering a terminal illness and given less than six months to live, or 12 months if suffering from a neurodegenerative disease. Perrottet warned the bill will “cross a line” in a speech to parliament opening debate. “Make no mistake, this is a culture-changing decision,” said Perrottet. “This debate is fundamentally about how we treat that precious thing called human life.” NSW’s lower house recently voted to consider the bill and is now debating a proposed 167 amendments to the legislation. NSW is the last remaining Australian state that has not legalized euthanasia. 

Scotland’s Woman’s Health Minister has announced it will not support efforts to create buffer zones around abortion clinics. Calls for buffer zones led by MP Gillian Mackay claim women are being harassed and “threatened” when entering abortion clinics. Pro-life MSP John Mason refuted the claims, sharing his personal experiences at pro-life protests outside clinics as being prayerful and peaceful. Minister Maree Todd said the government would not support a blanket ban. “It is important that any action taken is proportionate and balances the EHCR [European Court of Human Rights] rights to accessing healthcare and the rights of those protesting,” said Ms Todd.