A timeline of abortion rights in the U.S. after Roe v. Wade

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After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, here's a breakdown of how abortion rights were stripped away in the United States ...

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00:00Here's how abortion rights were stripped away in the U.S.

00:03Dr. Cornyn left us later!

00:05I am not an incubator!

00:07This is the first time in the history of our nation

00:11that a constitutional right has been taken from the people of America.

00:18Abortion is a human right!

00:21On June 24, 2022,

00:23the United States Supreme Court overturns a landmark decision, Roe v. Wade.

00:28This 1973 ruling protected an individual's right to have an abortion across the country.

00:34With its overturning, each state can now choose to allow, restrict, or ban abortion.

00:39Thirteen states, they already have trigger bans on the books.

00:43Here's how they work.

00:44They have already laws that will make abortion illegal.

00:47We're going to have states that are outlawing abortion outright,

00:50and we're going to have states that are, as we speak,

00:53expanding their capacity to conduct abortion.

00:59Immediately after the Supreme Court's decision,

01:01Missouri becomes the first state to ban abortion.

01:05Here in Missouri, the people's voice has already made clear

01:08that Missourians respect the sanctity of human life.

01:11I am humbled to be a part of this,

01:13and the first attorney general in the country to effectively end abortion.

01:18In many states, legal battles have opened up between pro- and anti-abortion groups.

01:22In Louisiana, a judge decides to grant a pro-abortion group their request

01:27to block a law that would prohibit women from having abortions,

01:30at least until July 8th.

01:32When do we want?

01:32Abortion rights!

01:34When do we want it?

01:35Now!

01:36But this law eventually comes into effect.

01:38Abortion clinics that are operating in the state of Louisiana as of today

01:42are operating illegally, based upon the laws and the Constitution of Louisiana.

01:47And they do so, if they continue to operate, they do so under their own risk,

01:53both the doctors and the clinics as well.

01:57Trigger laws, which are state-level laws that were designed to immediately ban

02:01or restrict abortion if and when Roe v. Wade is overturned,

02:05come into effect in Idaho, in Texas, and in Tennessee.

02:08The trigger law in Texas came into effect.

02:10And it means that abortion is banned from the time of fertilization,

02:14and that anyone who performs an abortion could be charged with a felony.

02:20And the penalty could be up to life in prison.

02:24After a federal judge in Texas rules to suspend the nationwide sale

02:28of the abortion pill mifepristone, a drug that has been on the market for 20 years,

02:32the Biden administration urgently appeals.

02:35These medications are the best way that we have to offset the impact of anti-choice legislation.

02:42The appeals court rules to keep mifepristone on the market, but adds restrictions.

02:46It blocks its use beyond seven weeks of pregnancy, as opposed to 10 weeks previously,

02:51and prohibits its distribution by mail.

02:53Five days ago, a district court in the state of Texas ruled to block access

02:59to abortion medication in every state in the country.

03:03If this ruling stands, creating what could very righteously be considered a nationwide ban,

03:10at least as it relates to what we believe to be half of the women

03:15who, when seeking abortion care, receive it through abortion medication.

03:20On that same day, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs a law banning abortion

03:25after six weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of rape or incest,

03:29with victims required to provide proof to get an abortion.

03:33The law strengthens a previous set of restrictions that came into effect in July 2022,

03:38which limited the right to an abortion to 15 weeks of pregnancy.

03:42It was a bit surprising it got signed in last night by DeSantis,

03:45the fact that he came back just to sign it. He was out of state.

03:49So that was disappointing.

03:52It does still have to go through the Florida Supreme Court,

03:54so it won't go into effect until at least June or July, if it does.

03:59The U.S. Supreme Court decides to maintain access to mifepristone.

04:03However, this decision is temporary, as new legal battles are expected.

04:08The governor of North Dakota signs a new law banning abortions at all stages of pregnancy.

04:13Exceptions are provided in cases of serious risk to the mother's health,

04:17and it's still possible up to six weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape or incest.

04:22Doctors who perform an abortion outside of these conditions face up to five years in prison.

04:27Since June 24, 2022, 14 states have banned most abortions.

04:32These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri,

04:38Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

04:47For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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