An assault on women’s rights by the minority

A LEAKED draft opinion from the US Supreme Court suggests that Roe vWade, the legal precedent that protects the right of women in America to have an abortion, is set to be overturned. In a 98-page document, conservative Justice Samuel Alito denounced the 1973 landmark ruling as “egregiously wrong”.

Should the ruling be overturned, abortion would instantly become illegal in 22 US states that have so-called trigger laws, passed to come into effect in anticipation of the court’s decision. Reproductive rights in the US have atrophied in recent years, as states such as Texas passed laws eroding Roe’s impact. But this watershed decision would represent an extraordinary attack on the rights of millions of women to decide on their reproductive health.

It is an assault on human rights and human dignity by a minority, with the vast majority of Americans believing that abortion should be legal in all or at least some circumstances. It would also mark a return to the days before Roe, when desperate women sought illegal and dangerous procedures, as they still do in countries around the world where abortion is outlawed or strictly limited.

It should be noted that, while abortion has been legal in Britain since 1967, restrictions in Northern Ireland were lifted only in 2020 — when the Assembly was not operational — and legislated for by the UK Parliament.

The decision by the US Supreme Court is unsurprising. It has a Conservative supermajority, including three justices nominated by Donald Trump — further evidence of the former president’s enduring legacy.

Ultimately, this ruling serves as a reminder that the rights and freedoms we enjoy today must be fought for by every generation and never taken for granted.