White House Reverses Trump’s Global Anti-Reproductive Rights Policy
In other reproductive health news, Texas lawmakers approve six anti-abortion bills; Kentucky passes a constitutional amendment denying the right to abortion in the state; and Delaware begins to erase its 19th-Century law making abortion a felony.
The Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Restores Reproductive Rights Report In Global Survey
The Biden administration is resuming the practice of evaluating women’s reproductive rights in various countries as part of the State Department’s annual survey of global human rights, reversing a decision by the Trump administration. The State Department released its annual human-rights report on Tuesday. The report said an addendum to be added later this year will cover previously dropped topics, including maternal mortality, access to contraception and reproductive healthcare. Those topics were last reported upon in 2016. (Donati, 3/30)
The New York Times:
State Dept. Reverses Trump Policies On Reproductive And Religious Freedoms
Women’s access to contraceptives and reproductive care is a global human right that will be monitored by the United States, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken declared on Tuesday, reversing a Trump administration policy that had overlooked discrimination or denials of women seeking sexual health services worldwide. The announcement was one of several departures Mr. Blinken made from the previous administration’s approach as the State Department issued its annual report on human rights violations, even while he similarly condemned abuses and state-sanctioned oppression from China to Syria to Venezuela that have continued for years. (Jakes, 3/30)
In abortion news from the states —
Austin American-Statesman:
Texas Senate Approves Legislation Banning Most Abortions, Testing Roe V. Wade
The Texas Senate approved six anti-abortion bills on Tuesday, including a proposal that would outlaw the procedure once a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically before a woman is aware she is pregnant, and another that effectively bans the procedure all together. The second measure would become law if the Supreme Court reverses earlier decisions legalizing abortion. Abortion opponents have pledged to push an aggressive agenda to severely limit availability of the procedure, with an eye to the changing power dynamics at the U.S. Supreme Court, where conservatives now hold a 6-3 majority. (Mekelburg, 3/30)
Lexington Herald Leader:
Legislature Passes Constitutional Amendment Declaring No Right To Abortion In KY
The Kentucky General Assembly scrambled to pass a series of last-minute bills in the waning hours of the final day of the 2021 legislative session, including a constitutional amendment dealing with abortion. With the minute hand on the clock inching toward midnight, the House filed a flurry of floor amendments, none of which the public had the opportunity to read, to pass last-minute items from their legislative wish-list. (Desrochers and Brammer, 3/30)
Delaware News Journal:
In Delaware, Abortion Is Still A Felony. Why Lawmakers Are Changing It Now
Delaware lawmakers want to erase a 19th-century law that classifies abortion as manslaughter and a felony. Abortion rights advocates argue the change is necessary to protect abortion rights in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade following last year's confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. (Gamard, 3/30)
