Following the US Supreme Court’s vote to overturn guaranteed nationwide protection of abortion rights on 24 June, the Chair of the European Parliament’s Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee Robert Biedroń (S&D, PL) issued the following statement:
I am appalled by the recent developments in the United States. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – the landmark ruling that granted the right to abortion for nearly five decades – repeals fundamental women’s rights to decide about their bodies, health and lives. This Parliament has strongly condemned the backsliding in women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights taking place globally, including in the US and in some EU Member States. We will continue to stand with the women and girls in the US and with all those involved in both the provision of and advocacy for the right and access to legal and safe abortion care in such challenging circumstances.
On 9 June, MEPs adopted a resolution calling on the US government to ensure access to safe and legal abortion.
Background
The decision taken by the Supreme Court will allow each US state to decide whether to restrict or ban abortion. Almost all deaths stemming from unsafe abortions occur in countries where abortion is severely restricted. It is estimated that the annual number of maternal deaths in the US due to unsafe abortions may increase by 21% by the second year.
Source – EU Parliament