Friday, 17 May, 2024
By: Anshul Vipat
While women has lost their countrywide legal right of abortion in world's oldest democracy, majority of the countries across the world have permissive laws on abortion
What is Roe vs. Wade
The American Supreme Court has overturned a constitutional right granted in its landmark 1973 ruling, called Roe vs. Wade, which had legalised abortion across the country. The case got its infamous name after Jane Roe, a 22-year-old women who had sued the state of Texas to have an abortion. The case went to the highest court which then granted women legal right to terminate pregnancy. It overruled all other legal tangles around the abortion across the US.
Implications on women in US
At least 10 states have effectively banned abortion since last week's ruling. A total of 26 US states have laws that indicate they could outlaw or set extreme limits on abortions, effectively banning abortion in those states. This would force patients to travel hundreds of kilometers for self-managed abortions.
Abortion laws across the world
While women has lost their countrywide legal right of abortion in world's oldest democracy, majority of the countries across the world have permissive laws on abortion, even in countries that with lower human development.
According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, there are only 24 countries in the world, where abortion is completely prohibited. Some 90 million (5%) women of reproductive age live in countries that prohibit abortion altogether.
On the other hand, there are 39 countries that allow abortion when the woman's life is at risk, while 56 countries permit abortion on the basis of health or therapeutic grounds. Performing an abortion because of economic or social reasons is accepted in 37 percent or a total of 14 countries.
A total of 67 countries allow abortion on the basis of a woman's request. This includes developed countries like Canada, China and most European countries. A total of 59 crore or 36 percent women of reproductive age live in these countries. This also includes conservative countries like Ireland which was forced to change their deeply conservative and catholic abortion following a nationwide outrage after the death of an Indian women a decade ago.
Abortion law in India
Abortion in India is a legal right for women for the past 50 years since the introduction of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. The MTP Act allows for termination till up to 20 weeks of pregnancy under normal circumstances and 24 weeks for special categories. Brief amendments were made to the Act in 2002, which allowed for the use of abortion pills. Last year, the parliament further amended the bill that pushed the upper limit for abortion from 20 to 24 weeks with the consent of 2 doctors. Women above 18 years of age do not require spousal consent.
