Last Friday, the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe, giving states broad power to curtail or end abortion. “It was so revolutionary - I argue it was on a par with the American Revolution or the French Revolution.” Supreme Court in 1973, which protected the right to an abortion, “it changed everything,” says Kristin Luker, a professor emerita of law and of sociology at UC Berkeley. Anything impeding on a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her health is diminishing the life and rights of women.Follow Berkeley Voices, a Berkeley News podcast about the people and research that makes UC Berkeley the world-changing place that it is. Abortion is essential to women’s rights, health, and equality. This decision is not just unprecedented in removing a constitutional right from half of the population it is also far out of step with international law and liberalizing trends in democratic countries around the world.Eliminating access to abortion is egregious and dehumanizing to the over 160 million women and pregnancy-capable people who live in this country. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the industrialized world, especially among women of color. This ruling will have a chilling effect and may very well affect care-seeking for obstetric emergencies and, in turn, maternal mortality.

Unsafe abortions are fatal and are the third leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide according to the World Health Organization. It impacts the most marginalized communities and results in unsafe abortions. Evidence from around the world shows that criminalizing abortion never reduces abortions it just weaponizes the health system against women and pregnancy-capable people.PIH is calling on elected leaders to codify abortion access into law nationwide. The elimination of this right will lead to devastating and unacceptable outcomes – including the death of pregnant people. Wade – a decision that will disproportionally affect those who are systemically marginalized, starting with communities of color and those who struggle with poverty. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Partners In Health stands firmly behind women’s autonomy as a core principle of health equity. As clinicians and public health professionals, we are enraged at the U.S.

How has roe v wade impact society