Międzynarodowa Organizacja

Soroptimist International

Klub w Bielsku-Białej

Soroptimist International is an international non-governmental organisation working for women. Soroptimists work closely with the United Nations and the Council of Europe, where they are represented. The organisation has over 72,000 members worldwide in 132 countries. There are 32,000 Soroptimists in Europe including 230 in Poland. Our Association is the global voice of women and girls, and an advocate of their rights to education and healthcare.

Soroptimist International is an apolitical and non-religious organisation. The women, working in a voluntary capacity and involved with various activities, come from many countries of the world and we endeavour to understand and respect different viewpoints.

After Friday's ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal, which broke the fragile abortion compromise and thus tightened the abortion law, we must, however, speak out on a fundamental issue for Polish women - our sisters, friends and daughters.

Abortion is a matter for women, not politics or religion. We believe that the difficult choice of giving birth to a child with an incurable defect should be left to the conscience of the woman who has to make this choice.

We are women who, for many years, have been involved in helping other women in a voluntary capacity. We mostly help women who are in the worst economic situation. It is these women who will be the victims of the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal, and it is these women who will be the hardest hit by this political decision.

We are bitterly aware that the ruling authorities in Poland, and a large part of society, are indifferent to the fate of people with disabilities, and that of their mothers and entire families. By its ruling the Constitutional Tribunal does not leave women a choice - it has forced them to give birth to incurably damaged foetuses. It is inhuman to force a woman to make such a ‘heroic’ gesture. They will not receive any support with a disabled child, they will be left to fend for themselves, without social or psychological help, without the right to mourn. The hardships of being forced to live in this way will fall on the women, their families and non-governmental organisations, such as ours.

Let the women in Poland have the right to express themselves and the right to choose, and let this voice be heard and the choice be made possible.

The Board and Members of the Union of Polish Clubs, Soroptimist International

Karina Mostowik – President of the Union of Polish Clubs,

Katarzyna Piszczako-Pałasz – First Vice President of the Union of Polish Clubs,

Magdalena Szkarłat-Meszczyńska – Second Vice President of the Union of Polish Clubs,

Katarzyna Brykowicz – Secretary of the Union of Polish Clubs,

Krystyna Domagała – Treasurer of the Union of Polish Clubs,

Joanna Waszkiewicz – Programme Director of the Union of Polish Clubs, 

Ania was certainly a person who fulfilled her tasks with passion and commitment not only as a wife, mother and grandmother, but also as a Soroptimist. She changed the world by the way she lived and by her deeds. She always knew where she came from and where she was going.  Ania started her Soroptimist activities at the Soroptimist International Club in Zabrze, and thanks to her involvement in the club's affairs, she became its president. After moving to Wilkowice, she became a member of the Soroptimist International Club in Bielsko. Her 15-year activity in our club has left clear traces of her unique personality. She performed many different functions and  was the President of the SI club in Bielsko in the years 2013-2015. She was very actively involved  in all the projects  of our club. Anna presented many interesting ideas which she enthusiastically put into practice. She had great ideas for organising the annual charity balls which appealed to many people and were very popular in our city. She became very involved in the project "We know what we have" (Wiemy co mamy), which concerned mothers of disabled children. Anna actively participated in it as a volunteer, organising classes which were aimed at integrating mothers of disabled children, showing that they can be a support for each other. She wanted to give them some joy and respite in their difficult lives. Anna always focused on unfortunate, disadvantaged people. She always tried to help, and looked for ways and opportunities to support those in need, not only materially, but also showing ways in which those people’s lives could be changed.   Anna always looked for the best in people and gave them the best of herself.

Goodbye Anna. It is difficult to understand and accept the cruelties of fate.

We will always remember yo