If the United States tears up women’s constitutionally protected right to abortion, it will erase five decades of work for the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights, says the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.
– It can be a huge setback for women’s rights compared to international human rights standards, she says.
A leaked document shows that the conservative majority of the US Supreme Court is considering revoking the decision Roe v. Wade from 1973, which establishes women’s right to abortion.
According to several opinion polls, most Americans support some form of abortion right, but recently, Republican-ruled states have taken steps to limit the right to abortion. Some of them want a direct ban without exception.
Bachelet says that millions of women would be affected if Roe v. Wade was lifted and that marginalized groups of women could be severely affected.