Critics of the proposed ban argued that if it were introduced, women who suffered a miscarriage would also be likely to be investigated on suspicion of having terminated the pregnancy deliberately.

And a recent Ipsos opinion poll suggests that the vast majority of Poles do not want tighter abortion legislation. Almost half said that the current law should remain unchanged, while over a third said that safe, legal terminations should be more easily accessible. Only 11% thought that restrictions should be made tougher.

Research indicates that banning abortion does not stop the practice – it simply forces women to turn to more dangerous methods. According to the World Health Organization, about 22 million unsafe abortions are performed every year, and even under existing laws, Poland sees far more illegal abortions than legal ones. Around 10,000 and 150,000 illegal terminations are estimated to take place every year, compared to between 1,000 and 2,000 legal abortions, with many women crossing the border to Germany or Slovakia instead.

Images: Rex Features

Polish government performs U-turn on abortion ban after Black Monday protests