Poland’s parliament votes to move forward with lifting near-total abortion ban

Abortion rights activists react during a debate in the Polish parliament from the gallery of the assembly, in Warsaw, Poland (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

Polish legislators have voted to continue work on proposals to lift a near-total ban on abortion, a highly divisive issue in the traditionally Roman Catholic country, which has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe.

Members of the lower house of parliament, the Sejm, voted to work on four separate bills.