KEYWORDS- right to abortion, unjust prosecutions, physical and mental integrity, criminalisation
Amnesty International released a global report, “An Unstoppable Movement: A global call to recognize and protect those who defend the right to safe abortions”, urging the authorities to take effective steps for the protection of abortion rights defenders.
The reports highlighted the difficulties experienced by defenders globally including, being subjected to unjust prosecutions and stigmatization or are even killed. The healthcare workers face several difficulties in their work such as, criminalisation, violence, isolation and burnout for defending abortion rights.
Amnesty International has mentioned that Right to Abortion is a matter of international standards and international legal norms and not just a mere opinion of any state or government, as it comes under the ambit of right to health, right to physical and mental integrity, right not to be unlawfully and arbitrarily killed due to the withdrawal of safe services and right to live with dignity.
The criminalization of abortion is a major contributing factor to the estimated 35 million unsafe abortions which are happening every year. It creates a challenge for healthcare workers to either fulfil their moral, professional and ethical duty by providing the best healthcare available or be criminally liable for not following these harmful and unjust laws.
Amnesty International is urging the countries to recognise the importance of access to safe abortion and ensure that people who are working for the same are protected and not intimidated, criminalised or attacked and provide justice to them whose rights are violated.
REFERENCES-
- https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/global-people-defending-abortion-rights-are-being-stigmatised-abused-discriminated
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/11/human-rights-defenders-and-health-workers-who-face-widespread-abuse-and-criminalization-for-defending-the-right-to-abortion-must-be-better-protected/#:~:text=People%20who%20are%20defending%20the,a%20new%20report%20out%20today.
WRITTEN BY- SNEHA MADAN, COLLEGE –LLOYD LAW COLLEGE, FIRST SEMESTER LEGAL JOURNALISM INTERN AT LEGAL VIDHIYA.
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