A peaceful protest was held outside the Polish Embassy to denounce a “draconian” proposal to ban abortions and criminalise the morning after pill and in vitro fertilisation in Poland.

The new bill to tighten the country’s abortion laws, already some of the most restrictive in Europe, was introduced by radical pro-life groups backed by the Catholic Church and officially supported by the leadership of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.

If passed, the bill would also increase the maximum jail term for those who perform abortions from two years to five.

Protests against the bill are held by Polish women and supporters, in Poland and around the world.