A top UN official has slammed the US’s attack on abortion rights.
It comes after at least six US states implemented restrictive laws. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have stepped up anti-abortion rhetoric.
The UN deputy high commissioner for human rights, Kate Gilmore, told the Guardian this week the attacks amounted to a ‘crisis’ of ‘extreme hate’ and ’torture’.
‘It’s clear it’s torture – it’s a deprivation of a right to health’ she said.
She said the UN has clearly stated that the absolute prohibition of abortion is against human rights.
Extremist conservative Christian groups are believed to be behind legislation in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Alabama, and Louisiana.
‘We have not called it out in the same way we have other forms of extremist hate, but this is gender-based violence against women, no question’ Gilmore said.
What’s more, Trump earlier this year peddled dangerous lies about abortions in the US. He accused Democrats of wanting to ‘execute babies after brith’.
‘It’s an assault on truth, science and universal values and norms’ explained Gilmore. ‘You’re entitled to your own opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts’.
Statistics show that abortion bans push women to more unsafe methods of termination.
Gilmore warned that bans disproportionately affect young, minority, disabled, or poorer women.
At least seven US states—Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Alabama, and Louisiana—recently passed abortion laws.
Lawmakers in the US state of Louisiana last month approved an abortion law prohibiting procedures once a heartbeat is detectable.
Alabama governor Kay Ivey signed the in the nation on Tuesday night, making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases. Doctors would face up to 99 years in prison.
All those in favor of the bill were white male GOP members. All female senators opposed the proposal.
Opponents hope that the more conservative-led US Supreme Court will overturn the Roe vs Wade case.
The landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court in 1973 saw courts made abortions a constitutional right across the nation.
Undoubtedly, the attack on an American’s right to an.
GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTI media organization, denounced the bills. ‘Limiting access to abortion is not just a women’s issue — it is an issue that affects us all,’ said Clare Kenny, Director of Youth Engagement for GLAAD.
LGBTI Americans, who are more likely to be poor, are more likely to rely on health clinics yhat provide abortion access for women, .
A 2015 found these bisexual and lesbian women are almost twice as likely as straight-identifying women to get pregnant before the age of 20.
Moreover, trans men, intersex and gender-nonconforming people – like cisgender women – and would need access to health care services, including abortion access.
