The European Parliament issued a non-binding resolution calling for “safeguard safe and legal abortion” in the US, as a response to the possibility that the Supreme Court of the country rules against considering the interruption of pregnancy as a right. Although no decision has yet been made, a draft leaked to Politico last May reveals that a majority of high court judges are willing to overturn the landmark 1973 “Roe versus Wade” ruling that enshrines the right to abortion without restrictions during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Although this repeal of this judgment would not in itself imply the prohibition of abortion, it would make it easier for the States most prone to restrictive legislation to have free rein to follow this path. The final verdict by the United States Supreme Court is expected in June.
The text approved by the European hemicycle “strongly” condemns, which the European Parliament understands as a setback for the sexual and reproductive rights of women, including “some Member States of the Union” which, however, the resolution does not mention. Currently countries like Poland have very restrictive legislation and Malta continues to prohibit it completely. It was precisely the election as president of the European Parliament of the Maltese MEP of the Popular Party Roberta Metsola last January, known for her positions contrary to the interruption of pregnancy in accordance with the legislation of her country. In July of last year, the European Parliament voted the so-called Matic report that considers abortion as a “human right”. This past January, in a speech before the European hemicycle, French President Emmanuel Macron defended that abortion appear in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The text was approved by 364 votes in favor, 154 against and 37 abstentions with the division of the European People’s Party. The Spanish delegation voted against the text that also asks that medical professionals not deny access to abortion “for religious or conscientious reasons, since they can endanger the patient’s life.” The parliamentarians of PSOE, Ciudadanos and United We Can have voted in favor while Vox has voted against.
In addition, the resolution also ensures that Abortion restrictions disproportionately affect women in poverty.
Discussion about this post