States across the world should act now to decriminalise abortion and make every effort to ensure women and girls have the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy, said a group of United Nations human rights experts on Friday, in a statement marking International Safe Abortion Day.
“Unsafe abortions cause the deaths of some 47,000 women each year and a further five million suffer some form of temporary or permanent disability,” said the UN Human Rights Council Working group, on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice.
The group highlighted that the ability for a woman or girl to make her own decisions about pregnancy “is at the very core of [her] fundamental right to equality, privacy and physical and mental integrity and is a precondition for the enjoyment of other rights and freedoms”.
Currently, an estimated 225 million women worldwide are deprived of access to modern contraception, often leading to unplanned pregnancies. For girls, issues arising from pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most common causes of death in developing countries. Girls under the age of 15 are five times more at risk.
“Legal frameworks for abortion have typically been designed to control women’s decision-making through the use of criminal law,” the experts said.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrates that criminalising the termination of pregnancy does not reduce the number of women who resort to abortion procedures. Rather, it is likely to increase the number who end up have unsafe “back street” procedures.
In addition, “too many women are physically and verbally mistreated or simply denied emergency medical care after abortions”, which the experts said, “amounts to another means of punishment which violates international law and, in many instances, national laws and policies”.
“Governments have a duty to ensure that women and girls who have abortions are treated humanely and without judgement or assumption of violating laws, in particular in cases of miscarriages,” they stressed.
The experts added that they hoped that “important steps” already taken in some countries to “reclaim women’s reproductive rights through referendums, legislative and judicial action” can be followed by others.
They called for “concerns about unsafe abortion” to be addressed through public health, relevant medical malpractice and civil law.
“It is therefore crucial that countries demonstrate their commitment to eliminating discrimination against women in their legislation and to advancing women’s and adolescents’ sexual and reproductive rights, in accordance with international human rights standards.”
Elliot is an award-winning journalist passionate about international affairs and humanitarian causes. Elliot has covered stories from conflict zones and areas devastated by disasters, highlighting critical global issues.
Access to legal abortion services is crucial in preventing the unnecessary deaths of thousands of women every year. It is essential for women to have the right to make their own choices regarding pregnancy, as this is fundamental to their equality, privacy, and overall well-being. It is time for states to decriminalize abortion and prioritize women’s reproductive rights to prevent further tragedies.
Unsafe abortions cause the deaths of some 47,000 women each year and a further five million suffer some form of temporary or permanent disability. The ability for a woman or girl to make her own decisions about pregnancy is at the very core of her fundamental right to equality, privacy and physical and mental integrity and is a precondition for the enjoyment of other rights and freedoms. Legal frameworks for abortion have typically been designed to control women’s decision-making through the use of crimi
Access to legal abortion is crucial to saving the lives of thousands of women every year. It is essential for women and girls to have the right to make their own choices regarding pregnancy. Unsafe abortions result in the tragic deaths of 47,000 women annually, with millions more suffering long-term consequences. Upholding a woman’s autonomy in reproductive decisions is fundamental to her rights to equality, privacy, and bodily integrity. Ensuring access to modern contraception is vital in preventing unplanned pregnancies and reducing risks, particularly for young girls in developing countries. It is high time for legal frameworks to prioritize women’s health and autonomy over outdated control tactics.
Access to legal abortion is crucial to empower women and protect their rights. Decriminalizing abortion is necessary to prevent unnecessary deaths and disabilities. Women and girls must have the right to make their own choices regarding pregnancy for their equality, privacy, and well-being.
“Unsafe abortions cause the deaths of some 47,000 women each year and a further five million suffer some form of temporary or permanent disability,” said the UN Human Rights Council Working group, on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice.
The group highlighted that the ability for a woman or girl to make her own decisions about pregnancy “is at the very core of [her] fundamental right to equality, privacy and physical and mental integrity and is a precondition for the enjoyment of other rights and freedoms”.
Currently, an estimated 225 million women worldwide are deprived of access to modern contraception, often leading to unplanned pregnancies. For girls, issues arising from pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most common causes of death in developing countries. Girls under the age of 15 are five times more at risk.
“Legal frameworks for abortion have typically been designed to control women’s decision-making through the use of crim
As a woman, I strongly believe that access to legal abortion is crucial to protecting the rights and health of women globally. It is appalling that unsafe abortions continue to claim the lives of thousands of women each year. Women and girls must have the autonomy to make decisions about their bodies and pregnancies without facing discrimination or harm. Efforts to decriminalize abortion and ensure access to modern contraception are essential steps towards gender equality and reproductive rights.
As a woman, I strongly believe that access to legal abortion is not only a matter of reproductive rights but also a critical aspect of ensuring women’s safety and well-being. It is imperative that states decriminalize abortion to prevent the unnecessary deaths and disabilities caused by unsafe procedures. Women should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies without facing discrimination or legal barriers. This is a fundamental right that should be upheld to protect women’s equality, privacy, and overall health.
Legal access to abortion is crucial for saving the lives of thousands of women every year. It is essential that women and girls have the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy to protect their fundamental rights to equality, privacy, and physical and mental integrity. Unsafe abortions continue to cause unnecessary deaths and disabilities, emphasizing the urgent need for legal reforms to ensure reproductive rights for all.
As a woman, I strongly believe that access to legal abortion is crucial in saving lives and empowering women to make their own choices about their bodies. It is appalling that unsafe abortions lead to the death of thousands of women each year, highlighting the urgent need for decriminalization and ensuring reproductive rights for all women. It is a matter of fundamental rights and gender equality that should not be ignored.
Access to legal abortion is crucial for saving lives and upholding women’s rights. It’s alarming to see the statistics on deaths and disabilities caused by unsafe abortions. Governments must prioritize decriminalizing abortion to protect women’s health and autonomy.
“Unsafe abortions cause the deaths of some 47,000 women each year and a further five million suffer some form of temporary or permanent disability,” said the UN Human Rights Council Working group, on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice. The ability for a woman or girl to make her own decisions about pregnancy “is at the very core of [her] fundamental right to equality, privacy and physical and mental integrity and is a precondition for the enjoyment of other rights and freedoms.”
As a strong advocate for women’s rights, I fully support the urgent call from the United Nations experts to decriminalize abortion. The staggering statistics on the consequences of unsafe abortions underscore the critical need for women and girls to have the autonomy to make decisions about their own bodies. Access to legal abortion is not only a matter of health but also a fundamental right that must be upheld for gender equality and the overall well-being of individuals worldwide.
“Unsafe abortions cause the deaths of some 47,000 women each year and a further five million suffer some form of temporary or permanent disability,” said the UN Human Rights Council Working group, on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice.