SHOULD ABORTION BE LEGALIZED?

For over a century, Abortion has been criminalized in the Philippines through the penal code of
1870 under the Spanish Colonial Rule and it has been incorporated into the revised Penal code of
1930. The criminalization of abortion has not prevented abortion, but instead has made the
procedure unsafe and potentially deadly for the over half a million women each year who try to
terminate their pregnancies. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of
an embryo or fetus. Based on my personal perspective abortion should be made legal and unbanned
on a certain country but on selective means, reasons, and motives. We can legalize abortion
depending upon on the women’s situation and causes of pregnancy. Therefore, on the topic of
abortions, I am pro-choice. There are many reasons why abortion should be legal.
First, banning abortions will not prevent them. It will only lead to women seeking unsafe, illegal
abortions, where their health and life is put at risk. Preventing women and girls from accessing an
abortion does not mean they stop needing one. That’s why attempts to ban or restrict abortions do
nothing to reduce the number of abortions, it only forces people to seek out unsafe abortions.
Second, poverty cycle and overpopulation. Since Philippines is suffering through poverty and
overpopulation. We can’t ensure that those people who are unprivileged can even support a child.
Others aren’t stable in their lives or in their finances, so bringing a child in the world would only
cause struggles. It can be very challenging for parents to have a lot of children. Some parents have to
commit a crime even though it is against the law, just for the sake of their children. Another point is
that legal abortions can control overpopulation. Numerous issues are brought on by overpopulation
that effect the world. It leads to pollution which is the major thing that causes global warming.
Third, to provide incest and rape survivors and sexually exploited/trafficked women the opportunity
to end unwanted pregnancies through safe abortion procedures. Denying safe and legal abortion to
rape and incest survivors is torture, a clear injustice, and patently discriminates against women and
girls. Banning abortion would mean destroying the chances of women who are victims of rape to get
closure. The psychological and emotional stress can fuel their desperation to rid themselves of the
fetus and make them go to great lengths to do that.
On the other hand, it has always been a fact that life begins at a conception, which basically means
that abortion is equal to murder, which makes them violate to human right laws. However, Life
doesn’t start at a conception, and science supports that and if you’re going by the bible, it says that
life starts at first breath. A fetus is legally and scientifically not considered as a person, so it doesn’t
equate to murder. Abortion happens in the first trimester, when the fetus can’t exist and isn’t alive
yet. Forcing someone to carry on an unwanted pregnancy, or forcing them to seek out an unsafe
abortion, is a violation of their human rights.
In conclusion, it shouldn’t be normalized rather it should be legalized so people who choose to
undergo that procedure can access them safely. I stand by my choice to support a woman’s right to
choose, both sides have a point but taking away a woman’s right is wrong. Keeping abortion legal
ensures a woman’s safety when faced with unplanned pregnancies, provides hope for rape victims,
and helps them in moving on with their lives, and protects women’s rights. Abortion is not for
everyone but don’t deprive other women from having the opportunity to access it legally and safely.