Abortion Seminar Discusses Women’s Rights

People protest in front of the Whole Women's Health clinic Saturday, Oct/ 4, 2014 in McAllen, Texas.  Abortion-rights lawyers are predicting "a showdown" at the U.S. Supreme Court after federal appellate judges allowed full implementation of a law that has closed more than 80 percent of Texas' abortion clinics. (AP Photo/The Monitor, Joel Martinez)
People protest in front of the Whole Women’s Health clinic Saturday, Oct/ 4, 2014 in McAllen, Texas. Abortion-rights lawyers are predicting “a showdown” at the U.S. Supreme Court after federal appellate judges allowed full implementation of a law that has closed more than 80 percent of Texas’ abortion clinics. (AP Photo/The Monitor, Joel Martinez)

On Wednesday the “Abortion, Women’s Rights and Human Rights in Transitional Perspective Seminar” was held at the Cheney International Center. Veronica Undurraga, law professor at Universidad Adolfo in Chile and lead scholar on global reproductive rights, and Elinor Burkett, visiting senior scholar in global studies, were the two guest speakers presented at the event.

Undurraga works globally as an activist, testifying for women’s rights at conferences such as the UN Human Rights Commission. Burkett has worked as a journalist on human rights issues and has directed several films.

The discussion covered activism in abortion around the world, advances in abortion and the importance of birth control. The conversation began with an introduction from both speakers on abortion issues and a summary of its history in the United States and Chile.

Burkett then discussed how Roe v. Wade legalized abortion throughout the first trimester of pregnancy in the U.S. through a state-by-state process in the 1970s, under the explanation of the women’s right to privacy.

“The United States basically said that the fetus doesn’t have a right to life,” said Burkett, “they said the right belongs to the woman and that’s the important part.”

Undurraga then explained how abortion access in Chile is hard to find due to objection and fear of prosecution with few exceptions.

“The belief of the country is that the women’s purpose is for family and children and therefore their own rights are hard to justify,” said Undurraga.

Despite this, Undurraga expressed that there has been a steady shift towards more progressive views.

“Things have changed very quickly over the last 6 years,” she said.

Both women argued that access to birth control along with other forms of contraception was important in lowering abortion rates.

“The legal status of abortion has very little effect on abortion. What is key is contraception and sexual education,” said Undurraga.

Burkett elaborated further on the matter.

“New York for example has very good access to abortion and low priced contraception, but minorities won’t use it because they do not want mom to know. That is why there is a push for contraception being made available for girls through high schools without their parents knowing.”

Also discussed, was the more recent development of abortion pills that can be accessed relatively easily through doctors and online methods. This method is more popular for middle class citizens and university students because it allows for more privacy.

Despite the more readily accessible nature of this method Undurraga still urges caution.

“I feel a little uncomfortable with the idea of a women being alone with a friend in her apartment taking these pills. Caution should still be taken and medical action if necessary.

“What will the courts do?” said Burkett, “the legal position is moot because you can’t stop it. They will just keep it illegal and everyone will ignore it because providers are overseas.”

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