Supreme Court wipes out lower court rulings in Texas abortion battle

The governor ordered a halt to nonessential medical procedures last year, which the attorney general then said applied to "any type of abortions."

Jan. 25, 2021
By Pete Williams

The Supreme Court handed a victory to advocates of abortion rights Monday, wiping off the books lower court rulings that had upheld a Texas order banning nearly all abortions in the state during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a halt to nonessential medical procedures in late March to conserve hospital resources and personal protective equipment. Attorney General Ken Paxton then said the order applied to "any type of abortions," including medication abortions that do not involve surgery.

Continued: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-wipes-out-lower-court-rulings-texas-abortion-battle-n1255549

Strategies shift in U.S. abortion debate as Biden takes office

By David Crary The Associated Press
Posted January 23, 2021

Anti-abortion leaders across America were elated a year ago when Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to appear in person at their highest-profile annual event, the March for Life held every January.

The mood is more sober now — a mix of disappointment over Trump’s defeat and hope that his legacy of judicial appointments will lead to future court victories limiting abortion rights.

Continued: https://globalnews.ca/news/7595526/abortion-debate-biden-change/

Restrictions on Abortion Care Prevent Critical Access For Millions of Women

Despite widespread public support for abortion care, less than half of states would protect abortion rights should Roe v. Wade be reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

1/21/2021
by RAEGAN MCDONALD-MOSLEY

Friday, Jan. 22 marks the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The day is cause to celebrate 48 years of women having the legal ability to decide for themselves if, when and under what circumstances to have a child. However, access to abortion care remains deeply inequitable.

And without question access to abortion care has increased women’s professional and economic vitality despite pervasive efforts to restrict access to those who need it most.

Continued: https://msmagazine.com/2021/01/21/roe-v-wade-restrictions-on-abortion-care-prevent-critical-access-for-millions-of-women/

21.01.2021

Commentary

Featured

anti-choice restrictions

Hyde Amendment

Power to Decide

Roe v. Wade

Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers

Planned Parenthood president: Saying abortion is a small part of what group does is stigmatizing

By KK Ottesen
Dec. 29, 2020

Alexis McGill Johnson, 48, is a political scientist, social justice advocate, and president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood. She is co-founder and former co-director of the Perception Institute, an anti-bias research group.

You served on the board of Planned Parenthood for nearly a decade [before] actually running the organization. Can you talk about how you first got involved?

I literally was just walking down the street and saw a billboard that I now know was run by [Life Always]. It had a little Black girl’s face on it, and she just was cute. [Laughs.] And so I got closer, and I saw the words underneath that said, “The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb.” I’m from New Jersey. My family had moved to Georgia. And so I would travel on holidays and see billboards like that and would totally write that off as being, you know, something that happened in really conservative states. And when I saw it in New York City — it was in SoHo — I just was shocked, like, What is going on here?

Continued: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/planned-parenthood-president-saying-abortion-is-a-small-part-of-what-group-does-is-stigmatizing/2020/12/18/e85b88f6-2dd1-11eb-860d-f7999599cbc2_story.html

29.12.2020

Featured

Interviews/Podcasts

abortion stories

Alexis McGill Johnson

Amy Coney Barrett

anti-choice restrictions

Is Croatia going the way of Poland on reproductive rights?

In Croatia, lawmakers and activists have been debating abortion legislation for three decades. The church, conservative politicians and pro-life activists now want to see rules tightened as they have been in Poland.

26.12.2020
Author Siniša Bogdanić, Davor Batisweiler

Since 1991, when Yugoslavia fell apart and
Croatia became an independent state, conservative elements in the country have
been trying to overturn the liberal abortion law introduced in the communist
era. This legislation from 1978 allows Croatian women to have an abortion up to
the 10th week of pregnancy without having to give reasons or fulfill any
additional conditions. That is the theory. In practice, however, implementing
the law has been somewhat tricky, as it was amended in 2003 to give doctors the
right to refuse the operation on grounds of conscience.

Continued: https://www.dw.com/en/is-croatia-going-the-way-of-poland-on-reproductive-rights/a-56044929

Contemporary abortion restrictions and cautionary tales from history

Carla Ramazan
Dec 18, 2020
Reno Gazette Journal

Nearly 20 years ago, my aunt died obtaining an unsafe abortion in our home country, Romania, because federal laws made it impossible to safely terminate a pregnancy. Today, the United States is bordering on a reality where abortion is inaccessible, if not illegal, especially in Republican-controlled states such as Arkansas. This year, a federal court ruled that a variety of first-of-their-kind abortion regulations can be implemented in Arkansas. This decision will push those who seek abortion-care into dark situations.

Beginning this August, doctors in Arkansas
are prohibited from performing dilation and evacuation abortions on patients,
and consequences for not complying include up to six years in prison. Doctors
will also be required to notify local law enforcement when patients under the
age of 17 seek an abortion and will be forced to involve family members of the
patient in deciding how to dispose of fetal tissue remains.

Continued: https://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2020/12/19/contemporary-abortion-restrictions-and-cautionary-tales-history-ramazan/3953803001/

The first abortion case of the Amy Coney Barrett era is now before the Supreme Court

The Court’s new majority has its first chance to take a shot at Roe v. Wade.

By Ian Millhiser
Dec 17, 2020

Last October, the Supreme Court handed down a fairly surprising order in an abortion case.

FDA v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concerns whether patients should have an easier time obtaining a pill used in medication abortions while the Covid-19 pandemic is still raging, but the Trump administration saw in the case an opportunity to drastically roll back abortion rights. One of the administration’s arguments could force abortion patients to have unnecessary surgeries instead of receiving a far less invasive medication abortion, and it could potentially deny abortions to many people altogether.

Continued: https://www.vox.com/2020/12/17/22178362/supreme-court-abortion-amy-coney-barrett-fda-american-college-obstetricians-gynecologists

The Future of Abortion Care Depends on Independent Providers

Today, there are 34 percent fewer independent clinics across the country than there were in 2012. The threats independent clinics face are harsh—which is why now more than ever, they need our support to continue meeting this moment.

12/11/2020
by NIKKI MADSEN

The toll of the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for families and communities across the country, including my own. But when I reflect back on 2020, amid all of the heartache, a moment of absolute joy stands out.

In early March, just days before the nationwide cascade of shutdowns and uncertainty, I stood arm-in-arm outside the Supreme Court with reproductive health, rights and justice advocates as we cheered on the fierce clinic staff at Hope Medical Group for Women, the Louisiana-based independent abortion care provider at the center of this year’s Supreme Court abortion case. Like other independent clinics (indies) before them, Hope was fighting for all of us that day.

Continued: https://msmagazine.com/2020/12/11/independent-abortion-clinics-covid-19-abortion-care-network/

Green light to vote legalization of abortion in Argentina

by Explica.co
December 10, 2020

BUENOS AIRES (AP) – Several commissions of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies approved with some changes the ruling in favor of the abortion legalization bill in an attempt to guarantee greater support during his treatment on Thursday in the compound. The executive power bill achieved a majority opinion on Wednesday that gathered 77 signatures in a plenary session of four legislative committees, enough to be voted on in the lower house.

Continued: https://www.explica.co/green-light-to-vote-legalization-of-abortion-in-argentina/

10.12.2020

anti-choice restrictions

Catholic Church

conscientious objection

Ireland – Anti-abortion TDs set up all-party group with aim to amend legislation

Group calls for pain relief to be given to foetuses with fatal abnormalities

Wed, Dec 2, 2020
Pat Leahy

Anti-abortion TDs have set up a new all-party group and will seek to amend the legislation on abortion when it comes up for review next year.

Independent TD Carol Nolan said the amendments were likely to require that pain relief be administered to foetuses in the case of late-term abortions carried out on the grounds of fatal foetal abnormalities.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/anti-abortion-tds-set-up-all-party-group-with-aim-to-amend-legislation-1.4425586

02.12.2020