Jasmine Garsd, reporter for Npr.og, reports on abortion rights, but more specifically, vis-à-vis the Zika virus plaguing Latin America. She is especially interested in the United States’ role in providing or denying aid to countries such as Brazil, where the Zika virus has proved threatening to the general population. What complicates the situation further is that the Zika virus is particularly harmful to pregnant mothers and their unborn babies. In fact, the Zika virus has been linked to certain birth defects such as brain damage and small heads. Hence, the emergence of the Zika virus adds another dimension to the abortion debate.
Many countries in Latin America already prohibit or severely restrict abortion. In addition, current pieces of legislation such as the Helms and Hyde Amendments prohibit US aid toward funding abortions abroad with few exceptions such as cases due to incest or rape. However, in light of the potential effects of the Zika virus, the US is rethinking its stance on abortion rights in Latin America, signaling to a possibility in a change in its stance.
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The US’s revised stance, then, raises an important question: Does the US have the right, regardless of whether or not they provide aid to countries in Latin America regarding the issue of abortion, when abortion remains a highly contested issue in US politics? And if so, would the provision of aid towards abortions in these countries translate to relaxed abortion policies in the states? In this sense, many critics who analyze the US’ role in abortion rights in Latin America have reason to label the US as hypocritical, as Garzd points
The Mexico City Policy had exceptions for those who had abortions done in response to rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions. When active, this policy could erase any progress made by the women that lack access to today 's modern contraceptives. “The global gag rule forces organizations to prioritize which communities they want to serve: women seeking abortions or all other women, children and families” (Jones, 2004). This policy was then revoked by President Obama in 2009. Currently, supporters are making sure that in the future presidents, like Trump, can’t rescind the policy without Congress.
The United States has been divided now over the issue of abortion for thirty-three years since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade in 1973. As of today, over 45 million legal abortions have been performed in the United States. Pro-choice advocates hold these 45 million abortions as being 45 million times women have exercised their right to choose to get pregnant and to choose to control their own bodies. To pro-life, or anti-abortion, advocates these 45 million abortions constitute 45 million murders, a genocide of human life in the United States propagated by the court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade. The debate over abortion in the United States is thus a debate of two extremes. One side argues from the personal liberty of the mother. The
Rumors that some people had started about Zika are that vaccines is the reason why babies have microcephaly, buckets of water are fill with larvicide and etc. This has caused people to start questioning authorities. People now have to use lots of repellant, stay indoors most of the time, and wear long sleeve clothing to try to prevent them getting the Zika virus. This help reduce the chances of getting the Zika virus. Mothers who already gotten the Zika virus are wanting abortions since they are in fear of the disease. There has been an increase in the number of abortion pills. Although the pills are legal in some countries, it is not legal in
Yet, women have the option of killing innocent human beings by aborting them. It’s dreadful and ignorant and more people need to start protesting and educating themselves in order to end this once and for all. Pope John Paul II says “America you are beautiful...and blessed...The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless. If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life.” Life is sacred, and we must seek to protect all life including the unborn.
In contemporary America it can be argued that nothing is more contentious and controversial of an issue than abortion. From the vehement pro-life movement to the impassioned pro-choice coalition, this policy issue is one that has become increasingly important in our society. This debate has raised important questions regarding the value of human life, at what stage of development does a fetus have it’s constitutionally ensured rights take hold over that of the mother and at what stage can a state start regulating abortions.
While Latin America’s lack of reproductive rights would seem to be common knowledge, many are unaware of how exactly women in Latin American countries are affected. In a fairly large number of countries, abortion is illegal. In regards to this, “in 2008, 12 percent of maternal deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean were due to unsafe abortions.” (Mane, 2013) 95% of the abortions
There is no denying that the Zika Virus epidemic is more a threat to women than it is to men. While it has yet to be proven, there are already studies pointing to a possible link between the recent Zika outbreak and the increase of babies born with birth defects. Because of the concerns over the safety of women in the midst of the pandemic, the UN has since commented about the issue. According to the global governing agency, it is imperative that women are given access to information, support and treatment should they become pregnant and infected by the disease.
The Zika Virus is a condition that initially started in Brazil and has now made its way around the world by transmission of mosquitos.The symtoms of Zika virus are typically last only a week or so and include fever, rash, and aching joints. Many adults contract the virus with no symptoms, which makes it easy to spread to their partners through sexual transmission and even onto their fetus if they are pregnant (Jin). Women began bearing children that were born with microcephaly, which is a condition that causes the head and brain to be smaller than normal. It is thought that the Zika virus starts to delay the growth of the skull from the beginning of fetal development (Teixeira). Serology tests are used to detect the virus in the mother, and
The topic of aborting an innocent fetus has been overwhelmingly controversial in the United States. The two sides to this ongoing debate is pro-life advocates and pro-choice advocates. Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy by removing a fetus or embryo before it can survive outside the uterus; whether it is an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. Abortions are most often performed during the first twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy and can be performed as a medical or surgical procedure. Medical abortions include two types of abortion pills; while the surgical procedures include vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation. Ultimately, I am one of the many “pro-lifers”, and I strongly agree that abortion should be illegal because it negatively affects our people. Women across the nation are becoming impregnated and following a short amount of judgement time, turn to abortion to solve their problems but in the end hurt themselves with this decision. Abortions should be illegal because it is immoral and unconstitutional, causes severe mental and physical issues, and negatively impacts the economy. “During the ancient Roman times it has been supposed that abortion and the destruction of unwanted children was permissible, but as our civilization has aged, it seems that such acts were no longer acceptable by rational human beings, so that in 1948, Canada along with most other nations in the world signed a declaration of the United Nations promising every human being the right to life”
The argument whether abortion should be legal or not has been raging for years. In America where democracy rules and the right to freedom of choice are set at a high priority among citizens, it’s not hard to see pro-choice and pro-life ideals going head on. In this paper I will explain some of the major reasons woman have abortions, as well as how if we are truly a democratic society and we do have freedom, then pro-choice and legalizing abortion is the answer. I will also talk about ethical issues, and how the effect of legalized abortions has affected other countries, as opposed to countries where abortions are illegal.
Abortion has been a heated debate in the United States for decades. Since before the ruling on Roe v. Wade, it is clear that this is an issue that is far from ever being decided upon. Between those who are pro-life and those who are pro-choice, scholars from both sides work on disproving the morality of the other side. With the evolution of abortion laws and regulation through the decades, it is difficult to imagine the United States without conflict pertaining to abortion. Despite pro-life and pro-choice agendas, the country is in ever-changing opinion when it comes to abortion.
Should abortion be allowed in the United States? If so, then under what circumstances? Abortion has been one of the most heatedly debated topics in the U.S. for more than a century. This paper explores the history and international use of abortion, as well as the empirical and moral claims made by both sides of the issue. We will also examine the key positions taken on abortion and look at those affected by it. Based on extensive research and analysis, this paper will recommend that the government increase abortion funding and availability.
Of all the legal, ethical, and moral issues we Americans continuously fight for or against, abortion may very well be the issue that Americans are most passionate about. The abortion issue is in the forefront of political races. Most recently the “no taxpayer funding for abortion act”, has abortion advocates reeling. Even though abortion has been legal in every state in the United States since the monumental Supreme Court decision, “Roe v Wade”, on January 22, 1973; there are fewer physicians willing to perform abortions today than in 2008. (Kraft) At the heart of the ethical dilemma for many in the medical profession is the viability of the fetus. And just to make this whole dilemma more confusing, according to the United States
Abortion has been and still is one of the most controversial topics in American culture. The reason for the controversy is the different viewpoints of this very personal matter. Some believe that abortion is the same as murder. Others believe it’s a personal choice which only they have the right to make. Due to the nature of the procedure and the concerns associated with ending a pregnancy, abortion will continue to top the list of “touchy” subjects in American politics and culture. As a pro-choice advocate, it is important for the right to have an abortion to be established and protected.
Abortion has been a complex social issue in the United States ever since restrictive abortion laws began to appear in the 1820s. By 1965, abortions had been outlawed in the U.S., although they continued illegally; about one million abortions per year were estimated to have occurred in the 1960s. (Krannich 366) Ultimately, in the 1973 Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade, it was ruled that women had the right to privacy and could make an individual choice on whether or not to have an abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. (Yishai 213)