In an unprecedented ruling, the United States Supreme Court of Justice repealed Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right in the country up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. In addition, it also revoked another resolution from 1992, “Planned Parenthood versus Casey,” which reaffirmed that protection while allowing states to set regulations on the process.
From now on, the states, individually, will have the power to decide their legislation on abortion without worrying that this means conflicting with the sentence of 49 years ago that specifically protects women.
According to the analysis of the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that promotes the defense of sexual and reproductive rights, almost half of the states (22 states) are expected to prohibit or restrict access to abortion as a consequence of this decision. Meanwhile, 16 states have local laws that would protect the right, even with the repeal of Roe vs. Wade.
Unequivocally, the Supreme Court’s infuriating 5-4 decision is the most important in decades and will transform the landscape of women’s reproductive health in the United States for the worse.
