Overturning Roe Would Set U.S. Against Global Wave on Abortion Rights
When the U.S. Supreme Court first legalized abortion in 1973, the country was among the global leaders on reproductive rights. Today, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, it will mean the U.S. is moving in contrast to the recent wave of liberalizing abortion laws that has swept many countries around the world. The U.S. would stand in contrast to countries like Argentina and Ireland, where abortion access has increased in recent years.
Global Trends in Reproductive Access
In the past 25 years, about 50 countries have increased legal access to abortion, including nations with significant Catholic populations and cultures. In Latin America, some of the region’s most-important economies have reduced restrictions in recent years: Argentina and Colombia legalized the procedure, while Mexico decriminalized it.
International Legal Standards and Milestones
| Country or Region | Recent Legal Changes and Standards |
|---|---|
| Argentina and Colombia | Legalized the procedure |
| Mexico | Decriminalized the procedure |
| Ireland | Repealed an amendment banning most abortions in 2018 |
| Thailand | Began allowing first-trimester abortions in 2020 |
| Europe, Canada, New Zealand | Permit abortions up to about 23 or 24 weeks (fetal viability standard) |
Furthermore, Ireland repealed an amendment banning most abortions in 2018, and Thailand began allowing first-trimester abortions in 2020. Many European nations, along with Canada and New Zealand, permit abortions up to about 23 or 24 weeks of pregnancy, the so-called fetal viability standard.
Summary of the Current Path
Overturning Roe sets a path for more U.S. abortion limits than parts of the Middle East and Latin America. This potential shift highlights how the U.S. is diverging from the global wave of expanding reproductive rights.