Access to abortion

Abortion is a common medical procedure through which a

pregnancy can be terminated. It can either be carried out by
the use of medicines (“abortion pill”) or by a surgical
procedure. Although the exigency for abortion is common
worldwide, access to safe and legal abortion services is not.
Lack of access to safe, timely, affordable, and respectful
abortion services is an acute health and human rights issue.
Access to abortion and abortion rights are among the most
controversial topics globally. While abortion is an acceptable
form of fertility control for the individual, it is frequently
condemned by society.

On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed the 1973
Roe v. Wade ruling that recognized a woman's constitutional
right to an abortion and legalized it nationwide. Roe v. Wade
provided that states could not ban abortion before “viability”
- the point at which a foetus is viable outside the womb,
generally viewed by doctors as between 24 and 28 weeks.
With the Roe ruling outlawed, a patchwork of abortion
access is emerging as each state decides how much time to
give women to access abortion services. The 13 states with
trigger bans already have or will soon reduce the time to
obtain an abortion down from 28 weeks to zero – a total ban.
Penalties for people attempt to provide a woman an abortion
range from being charged with a felony to fines of up to
$100,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
While a supportive legal framework for abortion services is
crucial, it is not enough to ensure access for everyone who
seeks the service. For universal access to become a reality,
policies that cover the cost of abortion, in addition to societal
measures that destigmatize the procedure are needed.