US Supreme Court takes away women’s rights
Abortion has recently been a controversial topic in the US, where abortion bans are sweeping the country. In the EU abortion is legal, with the exception of Malta. However, the US are facing complete bans or strong restrictions on the procedure. On 24th June 2022 the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Roe v. Wade had previously guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion up until 23 weeks pregnancy. As a result, that right was taken away, undermining the previous five decades of legal abortion and paving the way for single states to ban it.
The Dobbs decision affects people with unwanted pregnancies and those whose pregnancy could potentially cause extreme harm or even be fatal. It also affects providers through a lack of guidance and sudden restrictions. Providers sometimes have to cancel on such short notice that their patients are already on their way. Exceptions are made only if the mother’s life is in immediate danger.
Since the beginning of the year, abortion has been banned in fourteen states. In Oklahoma an abortion can result in ten years prison and a $100,000 fine for the provider. The main arguments against abortion are that it’s murder because of the belief that life begins at conception, and that it creates a culture in which life is less meaningful.
The pro-abortion argument is that abortion is a safe medical procedure that saves the lives of millions of women. Bans on abortion deny bodily autonomy, as the woman should have the right to choose if she wishes to carry the child in her body or not. A ban could also be mentally challenging if it is known that the child will die at birth or soon after, not moving it could cause it to die a painful death.
The majority of US citizens are pro-abortion. Some states are considering measures that protect and expand access to abortion. Some already have laws to protect the right to abortion. The Supreme Court’s decision prompted both outrage and celebration across the country, proving that the topic is very controversial after decades of fierce debates between both parties.
Ajda Bratkovič / S4EN enrichment / EEB1 Uccle
