Abortion - A Single Matter - Two Contrasting Laws- Spain Vs. Oklahoma, USA

08-04-2022

Ruhama Yilma Abebe

Women’s Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

Two contrasting abortion related laws were passed around the world this week. In Spain, the legislative passed a law aimed at protecting the right to abortion. The law prohibits intimidation and/or harassment against women who choose to have an abortion as well as healthcare workers in abortion clinics. Persons who are found guilty of intimidation or harassment of either the women or the healthcare workers could face between 3 months and 1 year in prison. Abortion within 14 weeks of pregnancy without a need to provide a medical justification was legalised in Spain in 2010. 

On the other side, the legislature of the State of Oklahoma in the United States of America has passed a bill with an almost complete ban on abortion. The bill which is due to be presented for the governor's approval criminalizes the performing of an abortion unless the life of the mother is at risk. Medical professionals found guilty under this law could face up to $100, 000 and 10 years in prison. Oklahoma's legislature is among other states with a Republican majority legislature to have passed a restrictive abortion law recently.  This law was passed at a time where the US Supreme Court is entertaining a case that may overturn the decision that legalised abortion across the US. 

Sources and further reading:

BBC (2022, April 06), "Abortion Oklahoma lawmakers pass near-total ban on abortion" , BBC News, Retrieved on April 08, 2022 from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61005390 

CBS News (2022, April 07), "Spain bans harassment of women having abortions", Retrieved on April 08, 2022 from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spain-abortion-law-harassment-intimidation-protest-outside-clinics/#app

Euronews (2022, April 07), "Spain approves new law banning harassment of women going for abortions", Retrieved on April 08, 2022 from https://www.euronews.com/2022/04/07/spain-approves-new-law-banning-harassment-of-women-going-for-abortions

Stracqualursi, Veronica (2022, April 06), "Oklahoma lawmakers advance another abortion bill, this one to allow civil enforcement",  CNN,  Retrieved on April 08, 2022 from https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/06/politics/oklahoma-heartbeat-bill-texas-law/index.html