When Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court decision affected the United States as well as the whole world. The U.S. is viewed as a world leader in many spheres, including the area of reproductive health. The ripple effects of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization were felt even at the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning, which usually refrains from discussing abortion. Yet, representatives from varying countries wondered how the actions of the U.S. Supreme Court will impact the abortion laws of other countries, especially those that receive aid from the United States.
There have been two responses to the fall of Roe v. Wade around the world – countries are either further protecting abortion access or they are ensuring that more preborn children are protected. Katherine Mayall, a director at the Center for Reproductive Rights, reported that many countries, including Finland and San Marino, have chosen to protect abortion against any future pro-life efforts.
Marta Royo, executive director of Profamilia, Colombia’s biggest abortion business, worries that conservative leaders who have wanted to implement stricter abortion policies now feel more secure doing so. She said: “Our region is very dependent on the relationship with the United States, and they saw it as they’re sending us the green light to strengthen our restrictions [on abortion].”
Malta and Poland have been under pressure for their pro-life laws. Poland has actually restricted abortion even further over the last year and rejected a proposal to expand abortion to 12 weeks. Abortion is allowed in Poland only if the pregnancy is a threat to the woman’s life (though deliberately killing a preborn human being via induced abortion is not medically necessary) or if the pregnancy is the result of rape. Abortion had previously been allowed in Poland if the child was diagnosed with a health condition, but abortion on those grounds was banned in 2021.
Malta is considering an amendment that would allow abortion when a woman’s life or health is at risk, however, Malta’s president said he would rather resign than sign a pro-abortion bill. Now, these two nations have the U.S. to look to for validation of their own pro-life efforts thanks to the fall of Roe v. Wade.
The United States provides funding and support to many developing countries, especially in Africa. There is a saying there that “if the U.S. sneezes, the whole world gets a cold.” These countries feel they need to follow the lead of the United States and do things that will be approved. The fact that a major world power has proclaimed that abortion is not a constitutional right has given hope to anti-abortion groups and government leaders who know that killing innocent humans via abortion is not a human right. Those leaders can now point to the United States to support this fact.
