Since Jan. 2001, Roe v. Wade has come under attack more than ever before. George W. Bush’s first official action as president was to place a global gag rule on funding for family planning in developing countries. This ruling withheld the $34 million intended for the United Nations population fund this year. This policy has particularly egregious ramifications for countries like Iraq, where instances of rape have skyrocketed under the American led coalition government. Under the Bush administration women’s reproductive rights have consistently been challenged. These affronts underscore the greater trend of regulation of women’s rights.
On Oct. 21, 2003, the senate passed “the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act,” a piece of legislation which prohibits all third term abortions without exception, even to save the woman’s life. Also in February, the Department of Justice led by Attorney General John Ashcroft issued subpoenas requiring doctors to release the medical records of women who have undergone specific abortive procedures. Hospitals have challenged this request claiming that it violates patient confidentiality rights. On Feb. 16, the head of the F.D.A. postponed the decision to make emergency contraception over the counter. Whatever you may think about emergency contraception, the refusal to come to a decision effectively limits governmental discussion about the issue. Most recently, the House of Representative passed “the Unborn Victims of Violence act.”
Under this legislation, harm inflicted upon a pregnant woman would be categorized as a crime against two individuals: the fetus, embryo or zygote and pregnant woman herself. Endowing a fetus with human rights in this way poses a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade.
Several state governments have already passed legislation that echoes this ban. This December, the Ohio federal appeals court passed a similar ban that lacks any stipulation to protect the health of women. In February, a bill that would ban almost all abortions was passed by the state House in South Dakota. The Bush administration has been notably silent on issues of international women’s rights violations. Attacks against women’s reproductive rights persist around the world, from female infanticide in India to genital mutilation in Africa.
On April 25, up to a million pro-choice supporters will gather on the mall in Washington D.C. to voice their concern for preserving women’s reproductive rights. Advocates for Reproductive Choice, a student group on campus, is organizing a Wesleyan delegation to the march, and will be selling bus tickets throughout the month. If you’re concerned about these threats to women’s rights, please attend an info session, today, Tuesday, at 9 p.m. in PAC 002.
Join us in our refusal to allow the reproductive lives of our friends, sisters and mothers to be determined by our government. Look for our tables at the Campus Center and Mocon, and come march with us in April.
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