Editing Women's rights (section)

==== Abortion ====

[[File:Black March in support of abortion rights, Łódź October 2nd 2016 33.jpg|thumb|right|Access to abortion services varies considerably throughout the world, with the status of related rights being an active and major political topic in many nations.]]

Women's reproductive rights may be understood as including the right to easy access to a safe and legal abortion. [[Abortion law]]s vary from a full prohibition (the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Malta, Nicaragua, the Vatican)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/aug/22/chile-abortion-bill-michelle-bachelet-a-triumph-of-reason-ease-abortion-ban|title='A triumph of reason': Chile approves landmark bill to ease abortion ban|last=Kozak|first=Piotr|date=2017-08-22|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-06-17|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> to countries [[Abortion in Canada|such as Canada]], where there are no legal restrictions. In many countries where abortion is permitted by law, women may only have limited access to safe abortion services. In some countries, abortion is permitted only to save the pregnant woman's life, or if the pregnancy resulted from rape or [[incest]].<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2016-04-15|title=World Abortion Policies 2013|url=http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/policy/WorldAbortionPolicies2013/WorldAbortionPolicies2013_WallChart.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415084202/http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/policy/WorldAbortionPolicies2013/WorldAbortionPolicies2013_WallChart.pdf|archive-date=2016-04-15|access-date=2019-07-09|website=}}</ref>
There are also countries where the law is liberal, but in practice it is very difficult to have an abortion, due to most doctors being [[conscientious objectors]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/11/italian-gynaecologists-refuse-abortions-miscarriages|title=Seven in 10 Italian gynaecologists refuse to carry out abortions|last1=Duncan|first1=Stephanie Kirchgaessner Pamela|date=2016-03-11|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-06-17|last2=Nardelli|first2=Alberto|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|last3=Robineau|first3=Delphine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2017/02/14/doctors-refusal-to-perform-abortions-divides-croatia-02-13-2017/|title=Doctors' Refusal to Perform Abortions Divides Croatia|date=2017-02-14|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-17}}</ref> The fact that in some countries where abortion is legal it is ''[[de facto]]'' very difficult to have access to one is controversial; the UN in its 2017 resolution on ''Intensification of efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: domestic violence'' urged states to guarantee access to "safe abortion where such services are permitted by national law".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/71/170|title=United Nations Official Document|publisher=United Nations|access-date=2019-06-17}}</ref>

The [[Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women]] considers the criminalization of abortion a "violations of women's [[sexual and reproductive health and rights]]" and a form of "gender based violence"; paragraph 18 of its ''General recommendation No. 35 on gender based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19'' states that: "Violations of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights, such as forced sterilizations, forced abortion, forced pregnancy, criminalisation of abortion, denial or delay of safe abortion and post abortion care, forced continuation of pregnancy, abuse and mistreatment of women and girls seeking sexual and reproductive health information, goods and services, are forms of [[violence against women|gender based violence]] that, depending on the circumstances, may amount to torture or cruel, [[inhuman or degrading treatment]]."<ref name="tbinternet.ohchr.org"/> The same ''General Recommendation'' also urges countries at paragraph 31 to [...] In particular, repeal:
a) Provisions that allow, tolerate or condone forms of gender based violence against women, including [...] legislation that criminalises abortion".<ref name="tbinternet.ohchr.org"/>

According to [[Human Rights Watch]], "Abortion is a highly emotional subject and one that excites deeply held opinions. However, equitable access to safe abortion services is first and foremost a human right. Where abortion is safe and legal, no one is forced to have one. Where abortion is illegal and unsafe, women are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term or suffer serious health consequences and even death. Approximately 13% of maternal deaths worldwide are attributable to unsafe abortion—between 68,000 and 78,000 deaths annually."<ref name="hrw">{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/women/abortion.html |title=Human Rights Watch: Women's Human Rights: Abortion |date=12 November 2008 |access-date=9 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112153841/http://www.hrw.org/women/abortion.html |archive-date=12 November 2008 }}</ref> According to Human Rights Watch, "the denial of a pregnant woman's right to make an independent decision regarding abortion violates or poses a threat to a wide range of human rights."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/americas/argentina0605/ |title=Q&A: Human Rights Law and Access to Abortion |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=30 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114110907/http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/americas/argentina0605/ |archive-date=14 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/americas/argentina0605/#issue |title=Q&A: Human Rights Law and Access to Abortion |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=30 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114110907/http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/americas/argentina0605/#issue |archive-date=14 November 2008}}</ref> African American women are five times more likely to have an abortion than a white woman.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2008/08/abortion-and-women-color-bigger-picture|title=Abortion and Women of Color: The Bigger Picture|date=2008-08-13|publisher=Guttmacher Institute|access-date=2017-11-22|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Catholic Church]] and many other [[Christianity|Christian faiths]], particularly those considered the [[Christian right]], and most [[Judaism and abortion|Orthodox Jews]] regard abortion not as a right, but as a [[moral evil]] and a [[mortal sin]].<ref>Catechism of the Catholic Church 2271.</ref>

Russia was the first country to legalise abortions and offer free medical care in state hospitals to do so. After the [[October Revolution]], the Women's wing of the [[Bolshevik]] Party (the Zhenotdel) persuaded the Bolsheviks to legalise abortion (as a 'temporary measure'). The Bolsheviks legalised abortion in November 1920. This was the first time in world history that women had won the right to free abortions in state hospitals.<ref name="Porter 1987 43"/>