Women's Choice: Abortion Law And Women's Support

Abortion is a highly emotive and controversial topic, with deeply held opinions on both sides of the debate. However, the ability to access safe and legal abortions is restricted in most countries, either by law or in practice. Only a small minority of countries prohibit abortion entirely, but in places where it is stigmatised, criminalised, or restricted, people are forced to resort to unsafe procedures. This can lead to fatal consequences, with approximately 13% of maternal deaths worldwide attributed to unsafe abortions.

In places where abortion is legal and accessible, people can terminate their pregnancies safely and without risk. However, even in these places, factors such as cost, distance to services, and social stigma can create barriers to accessing abortion. While there is a global trend towards the liberalisation of abortion laws, with over 60 countries relaxing their legislation in the last 30 years, the regression of abortion rights in the United States serves as a notable exception.

The right to abortion is a human rights issue, with international human rights law supporting women's claims to reproductive autonomy. Restrictive abortion laws cause harm, violating the human rights of women and girls and resulting in the loss of educational and economic opportunities, as well as the deepening of historical marginalisation.

Access to safe and legal abortions is restricted in most countries

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, 24 countries worldwide completely prohibit abortion, with 90 million (5%) women of reproductive age living in these countries. However, this number is decreasing, with over 60 countries liberalising their abortion laws in the last 30 years.

In most countries, abortion is allowed at least to save the pregnant woman's life or in cases of rape or incest. However, this still prevents most people from fully exercising their reproductive rights. For example, in Poland, a near-total ban on abortion was introduced in 2021, with the procedure only allowed in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk. This ban removed the exception for abortions in cases of severe and irreversible fetal abnormalities, which accounted for 98% of abortions in the country in 2019.

The criminalisation of abortion disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, as health services are often less accessible to people on low incomes, refugees, migrants, LGBTI people, and racialised and Indigenous people. Restrictive abortion laws also cause enormous harm, including around 39,000 deaths per year from unsafe abortions, the loss of educational and economic opportunities, and the deepening of historical marginalisation.

The denial of abortion care is a human rights violation, as it undermines individuals' ability to exercise reproductive autonomy and enjoy their human rights. International human rights law and instruments support the claim that women have the right to decide independently in all matters related to reproduction, including abortion.

To achieve real and effective change, it is necessary to address the deeply rooted social, cultural, and economic barriers that hinder individuals' ability to exercise their reproductive rights. This includes advocating for the decriminalisation of abortion and the removal of all legal restrictions on abortion, as well as ensuring universal access to safe and affordable abortion services.

Abortion is a human right, and its criminalisation infringes on bodily autonomy

Women's organisations worldwide have fought for decades to assert their right to access safe and legal abortions. International human rights law supports their claims, and it is clear that denying women control over their bodies and their future is a violation of their human rights. The right to bodily autonomy is a fundamental freedom, and this includes the right to make autonomous decisions about one's reproductive life.

The criminalisation of abortion infringes on a person's ability to exercise their reproductive autonomy and enjoy their human rights. In places where abortion is criminalised, stigmatised, or restricted, people are forced to resort to unsafe abortions, which can lead to fatal consequences, including maternal deaths and disabilities. It is estimated that 25 million unsafe abortions take place every year, the vast majority occurring in developing countries.

The World Health Organization has stated that lack of access to safe, affordable, timely, and respectful abortion care, as well as the promotion of stigma associated with abortion, poses risks to abortion seekers' physical and mental well-being throughout their lives. Restrictive abortion policies push pregnant people seeking abortions, especially those living in poverty or rural areas, out of the healthcare system and into unsafe, unregulated settings.

Abortion restrictions do not prevent abortions from taking place. Research has shown that when abortion is banned or restricted, the number of abortions does not decrease; instead, abortions are driven underground, increasing the risk of unsafe procedures and police involvement.

The right to abortion is connected to many rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as the right to non-discrimination, the right to be free from torture, and the right to privacy and bodily autonomy.

The denial of abortion is a form of gender discrimination against women and anyone else who can become pregnant. Forcing someone to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term or to seek an unsafe abortion is a violation of their human rights.

In conclusion, abortion is a human right, and its criminalisation is an infringement of bodily autonomy. The ability to make decisions about one's body and future is a fundamental freedom, and restrictive abortion laws have detrimental consequences for the health and well-being of those seeking abortions.

Restrictive abortion laws cause harm, including maternal deaths and economic losses

Restrictive abortion laws cause harm to women and girls, including maternal deaths and economic losses.

Unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal mortality, with approximately 13% of maternal deaths worldwide attributed to them. In developing countries alone, 7 million women per year were treated in hospitals for complications arising from unsafe abortions. The death rate from unsafe abortions is alarmingly high, at over 200 per 100,000 abortions. Restrictive abortion laws force individuals to resort to unsafe methods, often performed by untrained people using dangerous techniques that fail to meet healthcare standards.

The impact of unsafe abortions extends beyond physical health risks, such as haemorrhage and uterine perforation, and can lead to mental health complications, social stigma, and financial burdens for women and their communities. The inaccessibility of quality abortion care violates a range of human rights, including the right to life, physical and mental health, and reproductive autonomy.

Restrictive abortion laws also result in economic losses. Complications from unsafe abortions impose significant costs on health systems and households. It is estimated that complications from unsafe abortions cost health systems in developing countries $553 million annually, while households experience losses of $922 million due to long-term disabilities. Additionally, restrictive abortion laws hinder women's education and labour market participation, negatively impacting GDP growth.

The liberalization of abortion laws is associated with reduced maternal mortality. Studies have found that more flexible abortion laws lead to lower maternal death rates, particularly in countries with previously restrictive laws. This suggests that improving abortion law reform could significantly reduce maternal deaths, especially in developing regions where most abortion-related deaths occur.

Furthermore, restrictive abortion laws disproportionately affect low-income individuals, people of colour, immigrants, and non-English speakers. These restrictions create geographic, transportation, and financial barriers, exacerbating existing racial inequities in maternal and neonatal outcomes.

To mitigate the harm caused by restrictive abortion laws, it is essential to address legal, health system, and community-level barriers. This includes respecting human rights, improving access to information, and ensuring a well-functioning, universally accessible, and affordable health system that provides safe abortion services without discrimination.

Abortion restrictions disproportionately affect marginalised communities

In the United States, the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade has triggered restrictions in several states, particularly in the Southern United States, where "marginalised groups are disproportionately impacted by poverty and are dealing with the consequences of systemic racism." The lack of access to safe abortions in these states will have a range of health and financial ramifications for these communities, as they are already facing multiple systemic disadvantages.

Additionally, restrictive abortion laws can lead to a decrease in the quality and quantity of physicians able to provide abortion care, as well as a lack of diversity among abortion care providers. This further exacerbates the issues faced by marginalised communities, who may not see their needs and experiences reflected in the healthcare system.

The impact of abortion restrictions extends beyond the inability to terminate a pregnancy. It can endanger the pregnant person's life, disrupt educational plans, and change career trajectories, compounding the disadvantages for already marginalised groups. Restrictive abortion laws also contribute to the deepening of historical marginalisation and the loss of educational and economic opportunities.

Abortion restrictions can also lead to unsafe abortions, which are a leading cause of preventable maternal deaths worldwide. This is particularly true in developing countries, where the majority of unsafe abortions take place.

To address these disparities, it is crucial to remove restrictions on abortion access and improve abortion education and training for medical professionals. By guaranteeing abortion rights and addressing the social, economic, and political inequalities that hinder marginalised communities from exercising their reproductive rights, we can work towards creating a more equitable society.

Abortion stigma and social barriers prevent people from seeking abortions

Abortion stigma is a "shared understanding that abortion is morally wrong and/or socially unacceptable". It can be experienced at the individual, community, institutional, legal, mass media, and cultural levels. Abortion stigma intersects with quality in abortion care in several ways, including poor treatment and repercussions, gatekeeping and obstruction of access, avoiding disclosure, arduous and unnecessary requirements, poor infrastructure and lack of resources, punishment and threats, and lack of a designated place for abortion services.

People who have had an abortion and hold anti-abortion attitudes may have internalized stigma, which can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, or secrecy. Those who resist abortion stigma may justify their abortions by claiming they are being responsible mothers, choosing abortion to focus on their existing children.

People may conceal their abortions to avoid negative reactions from others or as a psychological burden. However, research suggests that keeping an abortion secret can have negative psychological consequences. Perceived abortion stigma was associated with keeping the abortion secret, and secrecy was associated with increased intrusive thoughts about the abortion and psychological distress.

In addition to stigma, other social barriers to accessing abortion include criminalisation, restrictive laws, cost, distance to services, and religiously reinforced conservative attitudes.

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