Eva Modebadze’s Post

This is an important message. And a scary one. Please read this report and share broadly...I would appreciate it. #womenshealthcare #bodyautonomy #abortionishealthcare #womensrights #equality #equity

[#IWD Gift] France makes abortion a constitutional right I love and hate #IWD. I love #IWD because it tells the world that we won’t close our eyes to gender violence, gender health disparities, gender pay gap, and other gender inequalities. I hate it because it “reminds” me that I’m still a second-class citizen. For example, I don’t have the same rights about my body that a man has. Moreover, unlike when I was a young woman when I could see barriers coming down, I now see barriers being purposely built to prevent women from being prosperous, educated, and healthy. This is not a bug but a feature. Whilst women and gender equality champions get all our energy re-fighting women’s basic rights, we’re not innovating, creating products that serve us, or investing to ensure we have enough wealth to enable us to get a dignified retirement. Amid these conflicting emotions, an unexpected gift arrived: This week France became the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution. Of course, there is no free meal in the universe, so reading this BBC article, my heart skipped a beat - or 2 - when I read 1.- “Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament that the right to abortion remained "in danger" and "at the mercy of decision makers".” And I realised what this sentence implies: decision-makers are not on the side of women. Moreover, that’s true. 2.- “In a 2001 ruling, the council based its approval of abortion on the notion of liberty enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.” That is, we have a Declaration of the Rights of “Man” written almost 250 years ago that “decision makers” haven’t felt necessary to update to the Rights of “human beings” or “people“ yet. Until when will we need to keep fighting for laws and regulations that treat women as human beings with the same rights as men rather than Adam’s rib? #GenderEquality #WomensRights #AbortionRights #AbortionIsHealthcare https://lnkd.in/ezg-vBvt

A Victory for Women's Rights 🎉 Yesterday, on 11th April 2024,  the European Parliament took a strong stance to protect women in the Member States of the European Union. With 336 votes in favour, 163 against, and 39 abstentions, the MEPs voted in favor of the historical resolution on including the right to abortion in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter.   The resolution condemns, in the strongest terms, the backsliding on women’s rights and all regressive attempts to restrict or remove existing protections for SRHR and gender equality taking place globally, including in the EU Member States, as well as all forms of threats, intimidation and harassment directed against human rights defenders and civil society organizations working to advance these rights.   The text urges Member States to fully decriminalize abortion in line with the 2022 WHO guidelines, and to remove and combat obstacles to abortion, calling on Poland and Malta to repeal their laws and other measures that ban and restrict it.   Even more remarkably in the resolution, the European Parliament urges the European Council to launch a Convention for the revision of the Treaties, as requested in its resolutions of 9 June 2022 and of 22 November 2023, and to adopt its proposal included in its resolution of 22 November 2023 to add sexual and reproductive healthcare and the right to safe and legal abortion to the Charter. Following the text of the amendment:   Article 3 - Right to the integrity of the person and to bodily autonomy: “2a. Everyone has the right to bodily autonomy, to free, informed, full and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to all related healthcare services without discrimination, including access to safe and legal abortion”.   Read the motion for resolution here: https://lnkd.in/ddmwHiQR   #EuropeanParliament #EUCharter #FundamentalRights

After Dobbs: The Partisan & Gender Dynamics of Legislating on Abortion in Congress - PDF: https://lnkd.in/gSd27MTH I examine the partisan and gender dynamics that shape Congressional policymaking on abortion since the early 1990s. I demonstrate how the movement of abortion from an issue that split the parties to a litmus test that defines what it means to be a Democrat or Republican has impacted policymaking. I highlight the increasingly central role female lawmakers play in crafting policy and shaping party messaging. Throughout this period, Democratic women are the most aggressive proponents for abortion rights and have expanded their influence over the party’s agenda. Meanwhile, Republican women were divided on the issue through the early 2000s and had limited influence on the party’s decision making. Since the Tea Party wave of 2010 brought more pro-life women to office, Republican women are pivotal players and will influence the direction of party strategy and legislating in the Post-Roe environment. #christianRight #Rightwing #segregation #Racism #ProLife #AbortionRights #freedom #liberty #abortion #Catholic #conservative #congress #RoeVWade

Excerpt: SINCE THE SUPREME COURT demolished the right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization last June, the GOP has been trying to douse the fury of reproductive justice defenders and dam the torrent of their victories at the polls. They’ve been failing. At first, they banked their hopes on changing the subject, from the pesky question of women’s existential equality to the rising prices of gas and groceries. That hopey-changey stuff did not work out for them in the 2022 midterms. After that, Republicans turned to election interference, trying to subvert reproductive freedom initiatives by making it harder to amend state constitutions. In both Ohio and Arkansas, that tactic lost big. Where they couldn’t stand in the way of steamrolling support for a pro-abortion measure, they returned to a time-honored tactic: lying — replacing the texts of proposed constitutional amendments on the ballots with their own, baldly inaccurate summaries. The ruse didn’t stop Ohio voters from enshrining abortion rights in their constitution by healthy margins this week. Missouri’s attorney general is trying the same trick in anticipation of a 2024 initiative. But advocates are fighting back, and he looks weak. So, after 18 months of watching its take-no-prisoners politics repudiated at the polls, the anti-abortion movement has adopted a new look: “moderation.” The centerpiece of this strategy is a “limit” on terminations after 15 weeks’ gestation, which proponents describe as “reasonable” and “commonsense.”

Dobbs, Gender Animus, and the Impact on Abortion Providers - PDF: https://lnkd.in/gb8F_6Zb In this article we engage in a critical legal analysis of the Supreme Court’s  decision in (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization). We argue that by refusing to connect opposition to abortion with “invidiously discriminatory animus against women” (2246), the Court successfully insulated itself from having to consider the devastating impact overturning Roe v. Wade (Roe) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (Casey) would have on women’s lives with a disparate impact on structurally marginalized communities. Through an examination of the opinion of the dissenting Justices, we highlight the operationalization of gender animus as the “curtailment of women’s rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens” (2318). Against this legal backdrop, we draw upon 22 semi-structured interviews to examine gender animus through the lived experiences of clinicians practicing in both abortion prohibitive and abortion protective states. Participants discuss how gender animus has manifested through their sense of professional and legal precarity and the impact of abortion restrictions and bans on their patients. The interviews we conducted with abortion providers buttress the claim of the dissenting Justices in Dobbs that the Court’s conservative supermajority knows or cares little “about women’s lives or about the suffering its decision will cause.” In contrast to the distance these anti-abortion Justices are “from the reality American women actually live,” the participants in our study are deeply enmeshed in this reality based on their professional identities and associated intimate knowledge of the first-hand challenges faced by those seeking abortion care in this ever increasingly hostile environment. Unfortunately, we are still bearing witness to the unfolding and devastating gendered impacts of the Court’s decision in Dobbs as legal controversies continue to swirl around various issues, such as travel restrictions and the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, leaving no doubt that the “the goal of preventing abortion” constitutes “‘invidiously discriminatory animus’ against women.” #AmericanStudies #AmericanGoverment #governance #USHouse #USSenate #USConstitution #USConstitution #USCongress #USHistory #Democracy #democraticErosion #USSupremeCourt #LawandOrder #Abortion

🔥 I was blown away last week by this unprecedented legislation! 👏 ✊🏼 On the occasion of #WomensHistoryMonth, France recently took a historic leap towards gender equality and women's bodily autonomy, with lawmakers voting in favor of enshrining abortion rights in the constitution. It's an extraordinary message France is sending to the world now, showing that governments can and should prioritize gender equality and put women's rights at the forefront of their policy agenda. 💪🏼 This groundbreaking move by France comes at a crucial time when gender rights are under threat in many parts of the world. Kudos to Emmanuel Macron and the country's dedication to protecting reproductive rights and guaranteeing freedom for women. 🌟 France's step forward is not only in response to regressive movements but also sends a resounding message to the world. We need to ensure that women everywhere have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. Let's harness this momentum and keep fighting for a feminist future where all women have access to reproductive healthcare and autonomy. #ReproductiveRights #GenderEquality #WomensRights #ReproductiveHealth #FeministFuture

It is still hard to believe that in 2024, in America, we are still debating whether women should have body autonomy and access to essential healthcare. This is a matter of fundamental human rights and dignity, and it should never be a political issue. Yet, the only solution to address this ongoing travesty is at the ballot box, making the upcoming election one of the most consequential of our lifetime. I recently came across an eye-opening article from Human Rights Watch that sheds light on the human rights crisis surrounding abortion in the United States post-Dobbs. It's a must-read for anyone who cares about justice and equality. Please take the time to read the article and, more importantly, to vote this November. Our collective voices and votes can make a difference. Human Rights Crisis: Abortion in the United States after Dobbs https://lnkd.in/gJ7z95RA #WomensRights #Healthcare #Vote2024 #HumanRights #BodyAutonomy #Equality

Some reflections on #SafeAbortionDay 💚 Those of us dedicated to advancing the human rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people know that human rights law continues to be predominantly understood and developed based on the “male” norm. That is, the "norm" or the "standard" is the heterosexual cis male experience. The right to life, the right to live free from torture, the right to autonomy and the right to make decisions about one’s own body are still primarily understood from this perspective. For this reason, I'd like to take a moment to express my gratitude to feminist attorneys and advocates who have dedicated their unwavering efforts to mobilize and secure landmark rulings from Constitutional Courts or Supreme Courts in countries like #Mexico, #Colombia, and #Spain. These rulings are instrumental in safeguarding access to legal, safe, and dignified abortion services. The legal advocacy endeavors required to achieve these milestones serve as a compelling example of how the law can be harnessed to drive meaningful social change. I'd also like to express my gratitude to all the tireless advocates who work relentlessly to secure access to safe abortions for women and pregnant people everywhere. The recognition of sexual and reproductive rights as human rights was hard-won and arrived many years after the establishment of our present-day human rights framework. Yet, even today, we continue to push for the recognition that criminalizing abortion constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights and contributes to unsafe abortions. In the meantime, women continue to need access to services. I know how challenging it is to use the law as a tool for social transformation, and I also know that every positive decision works to transform justice systems. The law is traditionally used to maintain the status quo including systems of power and oppression. However, the mobilization efforts surrounding pivotal judicial decisions, as well as the decisions themselves, serve as a poignant reminder that the law can indeed be used to change the status quo. These courtroom victories create platforms for advocacy, enabling us to collectively strive for more just and equitable societies. On #SafeAbortionDay, I want to express my gratitude to all of you that dedicate yourselves to upholding the human rights and dignity of women, girls and gender diverse people by fighting for safe abortion. We need more feminist attorneys and human rights advocates like you working with communities to harness the power of the law! Together, we will change the system from within! 💪 #womensrights #law #humanrights #womensrightsarehumanrights #feminism #abortion #socialjustice (Impossible to thank all the social justice warriors, today I want to give a shout out to some of you)- 📷 Causa Justa (Colombia)

“𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.” We are encouraged by France's decision to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution. This landmark decision sends a powerful message of personal autonomy and reproductive healthcare access as fundamental human rights.   We believe that everyone deserves the right to make their own choices about their bodies and their reproductive health. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀.   France's action sets a positive example for others to follow, and we urge policymakers worldwide to prioritise and protect reproductive rights as a critical aspect of the gender equality and the individual freedom. 𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀. ❓ What are your thoughts on this? ❓ https://lnkd.in/d4sDPi6N