Stopping Abortion Law: A Fight For The Unborn

Abortion laws vary from country to country and state to state. In some countries and states, abortion is criminalized or restricted, while in others, it is legal and accessible. The criminalization of abortion creates barriers for people seeking abortions and can lead to unsafe abortions, which can have fatal consequences. It is important to recognize that everyone has the right to bodily autonomy and reproductive justice, and that restricting access to abortion does not reduce the number of abortions but rather affects the safety and dignity of the procedure. To stop abortion law, it is necessary to address the social, cultural, economic, and political barriers that hinder people's ability to exercise their reproductive rights. This includes advocating for the decriminalization of abortion, challenging social stigma, and ensuring access to safe and respectful abortion care.

The right to bodily autonomy

Bodily autonomy is inherently linked to reproductive autonomy, which encompasses the right to control one's fertility and make reproductive choices. Reproductive autonomy is particularly significant for women, girls, and individuals who can become pregnant, as they bear the physical and physiological impacts of pregnancy. Recognising bodily autonomy means acknowledging that pregnancy and childbirth can significantly impact a person's health, well-being, and life trajectory.

International human rights law upholds bodily autonomy, affirming that decisions about one's body are solely an individual's right. Forcing someone to carry an unwanted pregnancy or undergo an unsafe abortion violates their human rights, including their rights to privacy, bodily integrity, and reproductive autonomy.

The denial of abortion access infringes on bodily autonomy and restricts individuals' ability to make personal medical decisions. This restriction disproportionately affects marginalised communities, including people on low incomes, refugees, migrants, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and racialised and Indigenous people, who often face additional barriers to accessing healthcare.

The criminalisation of abortion and the imposition of restrictive laws not only jeopardise individuals' health and safety but also infringe upon their fundamental human rights. It is essential to address the social, cultural, and economic barriers that hinder individuals' ability to exercise their reproductive rights fully.

The dangers of unsafe abortions

Unsafe abortions pose a significant threat to the physical and mental well-being of women, with long-lasting repercussions. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an unsafe abortion as a procedure carried out by untrained individuals, using dangerous methods, or in an environment that does not meet basic medical standards. This practice is prevalent in developing countries, where restrictive abortion laws, lack of access to safe services, and social stigma intersect to create a public health crisis.

The consequences of unsafe abortions are dire. Women may suffer physical complications such as incomplete abortion, haemorrhage, uterine perforation, and damage to internal organs. These procedures can also lead to mental health issues and impose financial burdens on individuals and health systems. According to the WHO, unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal deaths and disabilities, with an estimated 70,000 women dying each year from unsafe procedures. This translates to a devastating rate of seven women losing their lives every hour.

The methods used in unsafe abortions are often extremely dangerous. They include ingesting toxic substances like bleach, inserting sticks or foreign objects into the vagina or cervix, and inflicting external trauma to the abdomen. These methods can have severe and lasting consequences, including infertility, chronic inflammation of the reproductive tract, and urinary or stool incontinence due to internal organ damage.

The impact of unsafe abortions extends beyond the individual. Health systems bear the burden of treating complications, with an estimated 5 million women hospitalized annually for abortion-related issues. The financial cost of providing this emergency care is substantial, and it diverts resources away from other areas of healthcare.

Unsafe abortions are a preventable tragedy. By improving access to safe and legal abortion services, post-abortion care, and contraception, we can reduce the incidence of unsafe procedures and protect the health and lives of women worldwide.

The criminalisation of abortion

Criminalising abortion undermines the rights of individuals to bodily autonomy and reproductive autonomy. It also disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, including people on low incomes, refugees, migrants, LGBTI+ people, and racialised and Indigenous people, who may face additional barriers to accessing safe abortion services. Furthermore, criminalisation does not effectively protect life before birth, as individuals will still seek abortions, even in highly punitive legal contexts. This often pushes abortions underground, leading to unsafe procedures that put individuals' health and lives at risk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that the rate of unsafe abortions is four times higher in countries with restrictive abortion laws than in countries where abortion is legal. These unsafe abortions can lead to short- or long-term health complications and even death. By contrast, in places where abortion is legal and accessible, individuals can obtain abortions safely and without risk.

Additionally, the criminalisation of abortion can result in a "chilling effect", where healthcare providers are deterred from providing the best care options due to fear of criminal liability. This can also deter individuals from seeking post-abortion care for complications arising from unsafe abortions or other pregnancy-related issues.

International human rights bodies and experts have interpreted the scope of legal obligations under ratified treaties to include the decriminalisation of abortion as necessary for protecting fundamental human rights, including women's rights to life and health.

The social stigma of abortion

Abortion stigma is a set of attitudes and beliefs, conscious or unconscious, that abortion is "bad, shameful, or wrong". Researchers define it as "a shared understanding that abortion is morally wrong and/or socially unacceptable". Stigma creates discomfort around abortion, which contributes to misinformation and a lack of knowledge about the procedure. This, in turn, is weaponised to create and maintain barriers to abortion, such as laws that restrict access, institutions that limit knowledge, and popular media that perpetuates misleading representations.

Abortion stigma harms those who have had abortions and those who provide them. It causes shame, silence, and isolation, making it harder for people to get care or ask for support when they need an abortion. Stigma perpetuates outdated gender norms, which disproportionately harm women, people assigned female at birth, and people with feminine gender expressions.

Anti-abortion messages contribute to abortion stigma, and it is common, even among supporters of abortion, to feel uncomfortable or uncertain about when, why, and how late in a pregnancy it is okay to have an abortion. This discomfort is internalised abortion stigma. The only person who can decide when to have an abortion is the person who is pregnant; they have the legal and moral right to decide for themselves.

Abortion stigma is powerful, but it can be combated. One can take action to help reduce abortion stigma, such as by sharing their story, reading abortion stories, or volunteering.

The economic impact of abortion restrictions

Abortion restrictions have a significant economic impact on society. In the US, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has resulted in a range of economic consequences. Firstly, abortion restrictions are closely linked to economic subjugation and disempowerment, with states that have banned or restricted abortion often having lower minimum wages, weaker labour standards, and higher incarceration rates. This creates an economic environment that makes it difficult for workers to support themselves and their families. Additionally, abortion restrictions can lead to prolonged financial distress and trap people in lower-paying occupations, affecting their long-term economic trajectories.

The economic effects of abortion restrictions extend beyond the individual to the broader economy. In states with abortion restrictions, there is a negative impact on various economic wellbeing metrics, including lower minimum wages, lower unionisation levels, reduced access to unemployment insurance, and lower rates of Medicaid expansion. This indicates that abortion restrictions are part of a broader policy regime that seeks to control and disempower workers, limiting their autonomy and livelihoods.

The impact of abortion restrictions on the economy is also felt in terms of racial and economic disparities. Abortion restrictions disproportionately affect communities of colour, who already face systemic health, racial, and economic discrimination. Additionally, abortion restrictions can lead to a decrease in labour force participation and educational attainment, creating avoidable economic challenges for policymakers.

Overall, abortion restrictions have far-reaching economic implications that affect individuals, families, and communities. By limiting access to safe and legal abortion services, these restrictions contribute to financial distress, trap people in low-wage jobs, and widen income and racial inequality gaps. Addressing abortion restrictions is, therefore, not only a matter of protecting reproductive rights but also of promoting economic progress and reducing economic insecurity for millions of people.

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