France becomes the only country to explicitly guarantee abortion as a constitutional right | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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France becomes the only country to explicitly guarantee abortion as a constitutional right

Posted 06 Mar 2024

Updated 27 Mar 2024

2 min read

  • This comes after the controversial decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strip women of the right to abortion.

 

  • Arguments in favor of Abortion
    • Abortion rights are essential to uphold a woman's autonomy and bodily integrity.
    • Denying abortion jeopardizes women's health, freedom, and equality.

 

  • Arguments Against Abortion
    • Terminating a pregnancy is equivalent to taking a human life
    • Psychological and emotional impact on women who undergo the procedure.
  • In India, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 permits licensed medical professionals to perform abortions in specific predetermined situations.
    • As per the 2021 Amendment in the MTP Act, 
      • The opinion of only one doctor will be required up to 20 weeks of gestation.
      • Authorization of two doctors is required, for gestation period from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women like
        • Survivors of rape, victims of incest, etc.
    • Supreme Court Judgment (X vs. Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi)
      • SC held that unmarried women have the same right to abortion as married women.
      • SC  also ruled that under the MTP Act, rape would include marital rape as well.
  • Tags :
  • France
  • Abortion
  • MTP Act, 1971
  • Termination of Pregnancy
  • Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice
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