If you follow local and global news it would feel like women’s health and reproductive rights are currently being frequently discussed.
In Victoria, the state government has held an inquiry into women’s pain to highlight the challenges faced by women and girls in accessing healthcare. Last week we saw the Senate inquiry into menopause and perimenopause hand down its final report. The inquiry has made a number of recommendations including the introduction of paid gender-inclusive reproductive leave in the National Employment Standards.
On Tuesday, First Lady Jill Biden announced that the Pentagon intends to spend $USD500 million for women’s health research as part of a package to increase funding for the study of women’s health. This allocated funding aims to close the women’s health gap.
Whilst we should be applauding the fact that finally we are putting the health and wellbeing of women and girls at the forefront of policy and social agendas, in one Australian state we seem to be taking a step backwards.
This week, a Liberal MP will introduce a bill into the South Australian parliament to propose changes to abortion law.
In a private members’ bill, Liberal MP Ben Hood proposes that women who seek a termination after 28 weeks will be forced to undergo an induced birth and the babies born will be then be adopted.
In 2021, South Australia passed a bill to decriminalise abortion and allow late term abortions to occur after 22 weeks and six days, but only in circumstances that were deemed ‘medically appropriate” by two doctors. These circumstances include cases where the ongoing pregnancy would involve a “significant risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant person” or “serious foetal anomalies”.
On the ballot in the current presidential race in the US, women’s reproductive rights are on the ballot. In recent times in Australia, we have seen the creeping in of right-wing conservative rhetoric and now we see it playing out in proposed changes to current laws, sparking a national debate and protests in South Australia.
Reproductive rights are a contentious and evolving issue globally with ongoing debates influenced by cultural and religious factors and legal battles – the reversal of Roe v Wade in the US. The current political and ideological opposition to reproductive rights is leading to rollback of abortion legislation and the implementation of policies that support reproductive rights.
While abortion is currently legal in Australia, proposed changes could impact accessibility and regulations. These are laws that women have fought and advocated a lifetime for. Women have a right to autonomy over decisions that affect their own bodies. The proposed winding back of abortion rights is just the beginning in Australia and we should all be concerned.
Protecting and advancing women’s rights is crucial for achieving true gender equality. Ensuring that reproductive rights are upheld is a fundamental part of this effort.
We need to work together and stay vigilant to ensure that progress continues and that the rights we fought so hard for are protected.
The next generation of girls and women cannot go backwards and fight for rights we fought for and won, only to have them wound back.
Honestly, at the moment its exhausting, frustrating and demoralising to see progress being challenged and reversed and continually having to fight, but we have no choice.
We have to continue to push for a more equitable and just society.
Image: Liberal MP Ben Hood.