UNITED STATES: As the abortion debate continues to divide society, US President Joe Biden has issued an executive order on abortion access.
Abolishing the constitutional protection of women’s right to an abortion nationwide, the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision two weeks prior to Friday’s decision.
“The executive order aims to safeguard access to reproductive health care services and protect the privacy of patients and their access to accurate information, among other things,” according to the White House.
However, the presidential order won’t completely restore the right to an abortion. Additionally, it instructs Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to provide a report on such efforts within 30 days.
The President has also instructed the Attorney General and White House Counsel to call a meeting of private volunteer attorneys and public interest groups to promote legal representation for people seeking or providing reproductive health care.
Abortion has been one of the most controversial topics in the US. The Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the US Constitution generally protects the liberty to choose to have an abortion.
However, pro-abortion organisations have aggressively fought to overturn the ruling, fighting the other side in court and public opinion fights over the matter for decades.
The Women’s March has scheduled a rally for Saturday in Washington, DC, to put further pressure on the White House to defend abortion rights.
According to the organiser, the event will begin at Franklin Square Park in the morning, followed by a march to the White House and a sit-in.
Up to 10,000 people, according to the organisation, would be present.
Since the Supreme Court’s decision, at least nine states have enacted laws that prohibit abortion almost entirely, with the exception of situations when the mother’s life is in danger.
Abortion facilities are currently having difficulty navigating the confusing web of new rules, while other states are frantically trying to safeguard abortion access despite legal difficulties.
Also Read: Protestors Stand Against Abortion Ban after US Supreme Court Overturns Roe v Wade
