After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, here's a breakdown of how abortion rights were stripped away in the United States ...
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00:00Here's how abortion rights were stripped away in the U.S.
00:03Dr. Cornyn left us later!
00:05I am not an incubator!
00:07This is the first time in the history of our nation
00:11that a constitutional right has been taken from the people of America.
00:18Abortion is a human right!
00:21On June 24, 2022,
00:23the United States Supreme Court overturns a landmark decision, Roe v. Wade.
00:28This 1973 ruling protected an individual's right to have an abortion across the country.
00:34With its overturning, each state can now choose to allow, restrict, or ban abortion.
00:39Thirteen states, they already have trigger bans on the books.
00:43Here's how they work.
00:44They have already laws that will make abortion illegal.
00:47We're going to have states that are outlawing abortion outright,
00:50and we're going to have states that are, as we speak,
00:53expanding their capacity to conduct abortion.
00:59Immediately after the Supreme Court's decision,
01:01Missouri becomes the first state to ban abortion.
01:05Here in Missouri, the people's voice has already made clear
01:08that Missourians respect the sanctity of human life.
01:11I am humbled to be a part of this,
01:13and the first attorney general in the country to effectively end abortion.
01:18In many states, legal battles have opened up between pro- and anti-abortion groups.
01:22In Louisiana, a judge decides to grant a pro-abortion group their request
01:27to block a law that would prohibit women from having abortions,
01:30at least until July 8th.
01:32When do we want?
01:32Abortion rights!
01:34When do we want it?
01:35Now!
01:36But this law eventually comes into effect.
01:38Abortion clinics that are operating in the state of Louisiana as of today
01:42are operating illegally, based upon the laws and the Constitution of Louisiana.
01:47And they do so, if they continue to operate, they do so under their own risk,
01:53both the doctors and the clinics as well.
01:57Trigger laws, which are state-level laws that were designed to immediately ban
02:01or restrict abortion if and when Roe v. Wade is overturned,
02:05come into effect in Idaho, in Texas, and in Tennessee.
02:08The trigger law in Texas came into effect.
02:10And it means that abortion is banned from the time of fertilization,
02:14and that anyone who performs an abortion could be charged with a felony.
02:20And the penalty could be up to life in prison.
02:24After a federal judge in Texas rules to suspend the nationwide sale
02:28of the abortion pill mifepristone, a drug that has been on the market for 20 years,
02:32the Biden administration urgently appeals.
02:35These medications are the best way that we have to offset the impact of anti-choice legislation.
02:42The appeals court rules to keep mifepristone on the market, but adds restrictions.
02:46It blocks its use beyond seven weeks of pregnancy, as opposed to 10 weeks previously,
02:51and prohibits its distribution by mail.
02:53Five days ago, a district court in the state of Texas ruled to block access
02:59to abortion medication in every state in the country.
03:03If this ruling stands, creating what could very righteously be considered a nationwide ban,
03:10at least as it relates to what we believe to be half of the women
03:15who, when seeking abortion care, receive it through abortion medication.
03:20On that same day, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs a law banning abortion
03:25after six weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of rape or incest,
03:29with victims required to provide proof to get an abortion.
03:33The law strengthens a previous set of restrictions that came into effect in July 2022,
03:38which limited the right to an abortion to 15 weeks of pregnancy.
03:42It was a bit surprising it got signed in last night by DeSantis,
03:45the fact that he came back just to sign it. He was out of state.
03:49So that was disappointing.
03:52It does still have to go through the Florida Supreme Court,
03:54so it won't go into effect until at least June or July, if it does.
03:59The U.S. Supreme Court decides to maintain access to mifepristone.
04:03However, this decision is temporary, as new legal battles are expected.
04:08The governor of North Dakota signs a new law banning abortions at all stages of pregnancy.
04:13Exceptions are provided in cases of serious risk to the mother's health,
04:17and it's still possible up to six weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape or incest.
04:22Doctors who perform an abortion outside of these conditions face up to five years in prison.
04:27Since June 24, 2022, 14 states have banned most abortions.
04:32These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri,
04:38Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
04:47For more UN videos visit www.un.org