Abortion in the US: Reproductive Freedom Task Force Forms

The organization of a new action group, whose main mission is to protect women’s reproductive freedom, was announced on Tuesday (13/7) by the US Department of Justice. The formation of the said group was decided after Supreme Court ruling last month overturning the landmark Roe v. 1973 Wadewhich recognized the constitutional right of women to abortion.

The task force is chaired by Deputy Attorney General Vanita Gupta, overseeing and evaluating state legislation and enforcement that threatens to “infringe on federal rights protections” related to reproductive health services, the department said.

The task force, according to the Athens News Agency, will pursue legislation that would ban Mifepristone, one of two drugs commonly used to terminate early pregnancy, following disputes with the US Food and Drug Administration. (FDA) “regarding expert opinion on its effectiveness” as stated by the Department of Justice.

The decision made on June 24 by the US Supreme Court shocked the US legal worldwith 26 US states either certain to ban abortion or considering doing so.

Some of the anti-abortion bills, meanwhile, would potentially criminalize the practice or make it more difficult for women to travel out of state to get an abortion.

The Justice Department announced that the task force will monitor the implementation of laws that “harm women’s ability” to seek care in states where abortion is legal.

Although abortion is at the center of several state laws, reproductive health advocates have warned that several of these bills could have broader implications for women’s health beyond the abortion procedure.

Source: News Beast

You may also like