As speculation continues on the future of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in the United States, the cross political network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Swedish Parliament has written to US Senate Minority Leader McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Schumer. The group has asked them to codify the right to abortion within the first trimester by voting in favour of the Women’s Health Protection Ac, WHPA, on May 11. The letter reads as follows:
We, the undersigned members of the cross political network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Swedish Parliament, are writing to you as a matter of urgency. The right to abortion is under severe threat in the United States and therefore we ask you to do everything in your power to ensure that the Women’s Health Protection Act, WHPA, is passed on May 11. The WHPA of 2021 would protect the right to abortion up to the first trimester.
Unless the human right to abortion is protected it will put the lives, health and autonomy of millions of women at risk. Women of color and poor women would be disproportionately affected and, as extensive evidence from many other countries show, the criminalization of abortion will lead to consequential number of deaths and injuries resulting from recourse to unsafe abortion. More women will be forced to carry out pregnancies against their will.
Several countries, including Argentina, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, New Zeeland, and South Korea have decriminalized and legalized abortion in the last few years, which has been a huge win for the rights of women and girls in these countries and globally. The decision to be made by the Senate will show the world whether or not the United States is out of step with the progress that the rest of the world is making in protecting sexual and reproductive rights. Any backslide in the right to abortion will damage the perception of the United States globally.
As elected representatives of the people, we share the obligation to protect and fulfill the human rights of all our citizens, including women’s rights to life, health, privacy and autonomy. To allow the restriction of abortion - an essential reproductive health care that mainly girls and women seek - violates these rights and the right to be free from discrimination.
The letter's signatories include:
Diana Laitinen Carlsson, the Social Democrats, President of the cross political network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Swedish Parliament
Helena Storckenfeldt, the Moderate party, Vice President
Annika Qarlsson, the Center Party
Yasmine Posio, the Left Party
Gudrun Brunegård, the Christian Democrats
Camilla Hansén, the Green Party
Annika Hirvonen, the Green Party
Juno Blom, the Liberal Party