Recent declaration by US supreme court on abortion rights
The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of a strict Mississippi abortion law on Friday, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that has been the foundation for legal abortions in the United States for 50 years.
The ruling, widely regarded as one of the most consequential decisions by the Supreme Court, will result in rather an immediate ban on abortions, with some exceptions, in most conservative, republican-governed states, with some exceptions.
The court decided that "the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion."
Abortion laws and restrictions differ by state, and now that the federal protection has been repealed, abortion will not be available everywhere in the United States.
Some states have trigger laws in place that prohibit abortion immediately if Roe is overturned. While other states guarantee the right to abortion through legislation or constitutional amendments.
Abortion laws around the world
Following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, dozens of states might restrict or ban abortion. However, there are countries where abortion is legal and available on request
Countries where abortion is Legal
With gestational limits varying widely, below are mentioned some countries where abortion is legal.
Albania, Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, North Korea, Denmark, France, Georgia, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Uzbekistan
Countries where abortion is prohibited
Abortion is completely illegal and prohibited in the countries mentioned below
Andorra, Aruba, Republic of Congo, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Jamaica, Laos, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Palau, Philippines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Tonga, and West Bank & Gaza Strip.
List of reasons for why some countries allow abortion
- 1.On Request: Abortion for any reason is legal, however gestational limits still apply.
- 2.To Save Life: Abortion is legal when necessary to save the life of the woman.
- 3.Physical Health: Abortion is legal when pregnancy risks significant injury to the woman.
- 4.Mental Health: Abortion is legal when pregnancy puts the woman's mental and emotional health at risk.
- 5.Rape: Abortion is legal when the pregnancy is the result of rape.
- 6.Incest: Abortion is legal when the pregnancy is the result of incest.
- 7.Cognitively Disabled: Abortion is legal when the woman is mentally or cognitively disabled.
- 8.Fetal Impairment: Abortion is legal when the fetus is known to have significant mental or physical disabilities. Because these can range from non-life-threatening conditions like Down Syndrome to 100% fatal conditions like anencephaly.
- 9.Socioeconomic: Abortion is legal when the woman is financially unable to support the child
India's stance on abortion rights
Abortion has been legal in India under various circumstances for the last 50 years, following the enactment of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act in 1971. In 2003, the Act was amended to allow women access to safe and legal abortion services.
On the advice of doctor, all women can terminate their pregnancy up to 20 weeks. However, special categories of women such as survivors of sexual abuse, minors, rape victims, incest, and disabled women can seek termination up to 24 weeks.