An Escalating War on Reproductive Rights

A demonstrator in Buenos Aires wears a T-shirt with the slogan "my body, my rights," one of the slogans of the so-called green tide - the colour adopted by the movement for the legalisation of abortion, which is beginning to spread to other Latin American countries. Credit: Fabiana Frayssinet/IPSBy Tharanga YakupitiyageUNITED NATIONS, Jun 3 2019 (IPS) Abortion has long been a contentious issue across the world, and the debate is only heating up, prompting women to stand up and speak out for their reproductive rights. In response to increasingly restrictive policies, civil society is taking action to help protect abortion rights. “The failure of states to guarantee reproductive rights is a clear violation of human rights,” said President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) Nancy Northup. “The centre is committed to using the power of law to ensure that women and girls…are guaranteed access to sexual and reproductive health rights and services,” she added. Human Rights Watch’s Senior Researcher Margaret Wurth echoed similar sentiments, stating: “No rape survivor should be forced into motherhood without the chance to consider a safe and legal abortion.” Girls, Not Mothers Latin American countries have some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. For instance, Nicaragua has a complete ban on abortion while Guatemala has an exception only when a girl or woman’s life is at risk. Though the risk of maternal mortality increases when pre...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Featured Gender Global Headlines Health Human Rights IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse North America Regional Categories TerraViva United Nations Women's Health Abortion Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) Human Rights Watch (HRW) Source Type: news