Features of Human Rights: Abortion as a human right

 An issue I find very interesting in regards to the discussion around human rights is the controversy around abortion. Specifically in the U.S., the ruling on Roe V. Wade as well as different restrictions made on abortions in more recent years. 

There is a fascinating argument for abortion as a form of health care, this falling under the general umbrella of article 25; refering to having a living standard adequate to maintain health and wellbeing of self and family, and right to security in the cirumstances of a lack of livelihood out of the individual’s control. Pregnancy has the potential to greatly affect a woman’s health, as well as ability to maintain an income to sustain herself or her family. It also could fall under article 23, since pregnancy is an obstacle that specifically prevents women from participating in the work force the same as men. 

Universal- The right to healthcare, as well as the right to be able to work and maintain a livelihood is universal, and therefore if there is an equalizing process that allows women to achieve work, health, and livelihood the same as men, they should have access to it. Their ability to access this medical procedure should not be denied simply because many people have religious beliefs that don’t agree with it. 

Inalienable- The right to an abortion is inalienable because by restricting or criminalizing abortion, the government is condemning a specific identity of the population to injury, poverty, and even death because of the circumstances created that deny women access to intervention. 

Indivisible- Just because abortion rights generally only apply to women, doesn’t negate their importance and necessity. 

Interdependent- Abortion rights overlap and help enforce women’s rights and freedoms to live independent lives and pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Along with that, it enables more women to become representatives in a community and take up more roles in society(like as politicians, or judges), which continues to give them power to bring awareness and change to other issues involving women’s rights.

Access to abortion is both a positive and a negative right. It is negative (in the U.S) because it would require lawmakers to role back the large number of specific laws that restrict women’s ease of access to abortion that cause a huge number of obstacles for women. It can also be positive, by having healthcare providers pay for abortion.