law
27 Jun 2022

New Zealand reacts to US abortion law decision

From Morning Report, 8:15 am on 27 June 2022

Thousands of protestors in the US have taken to the streets after the Supreme Court overturned women's constitutional right to abortion.

But those who are anti-abortion are lauding the decision.

The Supreme Court decision does not automatically make abortion illegal in the US.

However, individual states will now get to decide if and how to allow terminations. In Aotearoa, abortion is legal and was removed from the Crimes Act in 2020. However, experts believe shockwaves of the US decision will be felt here.

Abortion Law Reform Association New Zealand's Terry Bellamak and reproductive rights campaigner Dame Margaret Sparrow, who opened one of the country's first clinics, spoke to Morning Report.