All over the world, we see sudden and drastic restrictions on democratic freedoms. Our movements are monitored increasingly. Public meetings are prohibited; the state of emergency is announced; legislative debates are postponed and, in certain countries, the operation of parliaments is suspended or their oversight role is severely curtailed in favour of the executive branch. All over the world, governments are ramping up digital surveillance. In Europe for example, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán granted himself dictatorial powers to ignore laws indefinitely and to suspend elections and referendums. In Israel, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an emergency decree preventing the parliament from meeting, in what newspaper Haaretz called a 'corona-coup'. Experts are already pointing to the increasing pressure on the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls everywhere in the world.
In Europe, countries are also taking advantage of the crisis to strengthen conservative ideas. Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Poland have very strict abortion laws that will lead to more unsafe abortions and unwanted pregnancies in quarantine. In Poland, there are even two bills on the table that aim to further restrict the right to abortion (which is already one of the most restrictive in Europe) and to criminalise the provision of sexual and relational education.
In the US, Trump's presidency and his republican government have already led to reduced access to reproductive care. The global-gag rule (the Mexico City policy) disrupted international access to essential abortion care, sexual and reproductive services and the HIV response in countries of the global South. The suspension of US support (approximately $500 million) to the World Health Organization will also affect the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health, at a time when the WHO is essential to support countries in their coordinated response to the Covid 19 pandemic, and providing them with assistance to strengthen their health systems.
In the US, Trump's presidency and his republican government have already led to reduced access to reproductive care. The global-gag rule (the Mexico City policy) disrupted international access to essential abortion care, sexual and reproductive services and the HIV response in countries of the global South. The suspension of US support (approximately $500 million) to the World Health Organization will also affect the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health, at a time when the WHO is essential to support countries in their coordinated response to the Covid 19 pandemic, and providing them with assistance to strengthen their health systems.
RSS Feed