Human Rights Infographic

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Abortion

RIGHTS

HUMANS

VS

Pro Life

Pro Choice

"I have met thousands and thousands of pro-choice men and women. I have never met anyone who is pro-abortion." -Hillary Clinton

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Historical Context

Roe v. Wade was one of the most significant Supreme Court decisions in American history. In 1973, the Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Jane Roe, establishing that the constitutional right to privacy under the 14th Amendment protects a woman’s right to choose abortion before fetal viability, typically around 24-28 weeks. This ruling also introduced a trimester framework to balance the woman’s right with the state’s interest in protecting potential life.Outcome: The impact of this decision was monumental. It effectively legalized abortion nationwide, becoming a cornerstone for reproductive rights advocacy. However, it also sparked decades of heated debate. Critics argued that the Court overstepped its authority and ignored the moral value of unborn life. This controversy culminated in 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, returning the power to regulate abortion to individual states.

These case studies illustrate the ongoing evolution of abortion rights, shaped by legal, cultural, and social dynamics. They highlight how societies balance individual autonomy with moral and ethical considerations, often reflecting broader debates about gender equality and human rights

Case Studies

In Ireland, the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, enacted in 1983, granted equal rights to the life of the mother and the unborn, effectively outlawing abortion in nearly all cases. Over the years, international criticism and domestic pressure mounted against this restrictive stance, particularly following high-profile tragedies such as the death of Savita Halappanavar in 2012. Halappanavar died of septicemia after being denied an abortion during a miscarriage, galvanizing public opinion.

Outcome: In 2018, Ireland held a historic referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. Approximately 66.4% of voters supported its repeal, leading to the legalization of abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and in specific circumstances thereafter. Impact: The referendum marked a significant shift in Ireland’s social and legal landscape, reflecting the country’s broader move toward secularism and recognition of women’s reproductive rights. It also inspired global discussions about restrictive abortion laws in other countries.

Circumstantial Ethics

Ethical and Moral Considerations ​

AUTONOMY

Woman Rights

Globally, there are about 210 million pregnancies each year, with approximately 40% being unintended. Of these unintended pregnancies, 50% are aborted, 13% miscarried, and 38% carried to term. Younger women (aged 15-19) have a higher proportion of unintended pregnancies compared to older women. Reasons for unintended pregnancies include having too many children, lack of desire for children at the moment, financial constraints, being in school, being unmarried, or incorrect use or lack of access to contraceptives.

Woman's Health AND safety

Unintended pregnancies can have significant health, social, and economic impacts on mothers and their families, affecting physical and mental health and quality of life. In many low- and middle-income countries, abortions can be illegal or inaccessible, leading to unsafe abortions. These abortions increase healthcare and societal costs due to the need for treatment of complications from unsafe procedures. The consequences are particularly significant in low- and middle-income countries, where most unintended pregnancies occur.

Social and Economic Impact

• Denying women access to abortion services has been shown to increase psychological distress. A 2020 study in JAMA Psychiatry found that women who were denied abortions experienced more mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and lower life satisfaction, compared to women who were able to access abortion services
• A study published in The Lancet found that countries with restrictive abortion laws tend to have higher rates of maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion practices
• A study published in The American Journal of Public Health concluded that women who were denied abortions were more likely to experience poverty and economic instability in the years following the denial
• States that restrict abortion may see increased public welfare spending as more women are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term according to Guttmacher Institute

• In conclusion these stories and statistics you saw today were not here to push a certain agenda it’s to show that a change has to be made not only are we endangering the lives and safety of women, but we are also hurting everyone else around them.

• The topic of abortion is controversial, but the facts are clear the economic impact on those affected by the outlawing of this basic human right is catastrophic not to mention the emotional distress those affected have to deal with

https://pluralism.org/files/pluralism/files/the_ethics_of_abortion_0.pdf?m=1648223566https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2592320#google_vignette https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30624-X/fulltext https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306993 https://www.guttmacher.org/2023/01/inequity-us-abortion-rights-and-access-end-roe-deepening-existing-divides www.guttmacher.org https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7275006/#fn-group1 https://wps.unwomen.org/protecting/

In fact, 72% of Americans believe that decisions about abortion should rest solely with the pregnant individual

Globally, the United Nations recognizes reproductive healthcare, including abortion, as essential to achieving gender equality and personal liberty.

https://pluralism.org/files/pluralism/files/the_ethics_of_abortion_0.pdf?m=1648223566

Autonomy

Autonomy Principle: every individual has the right to make decisions about their own body.

Denying abortion forces someone to remain pregnant against their will, violating their autonomy and freedom.

69% support abortion access in cases of rape.

Timing and Viability:Support is higher for abortions at six weeks than at 24 weeks due to perceptions of viability. At six weeks, 44% of U.S. adults say abortion should be legal, compared to 22% at 24 weeks.

Circumstantial Ethics

Protecting Dignity and Safety

According to an article written by Harved University, 73% of Americans believe abortion should be legal when the pregnant person’s life is at risk.

The belief that abortion is morally wrong and that life begins at conception.

The belief that abortion is morally permissible and that a woman should be able to decide whether to keep a pregnancy