The Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterresbelieves that sexual and reproductive health and rights are the “basis for women and girls in the world to choose, empower and equalize themselves,” said a spokesperson for the entity, after the leak of a draft opinion that would nullify the right to abortion in the United States.
Although the spokesman for UNFarhan Haq did not want to comment directly on the draft of the United States Supreme Courtsaid Guterres has repeatedly raised concerns about “a global backsliding” on women’s rights, including reproductive rights and those related to essential health services.
The United States Supreme Court upheld the authenticity of the draft ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade’s 1973 bill, which legalized abortion nationwide, but said it did not represent his final position, which is due by the end of June.
“Although we have seen this document that has been leaked and it raises a number of concerns for all of us, in our international policies in terms of allowing women’s and girls’ reproductive health, we will continue to support those efforts“said US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“We have restored the US position on this issue,” he added.
Under the government of former President Donald Trump, the United States led pressure at the UN against the promotion of women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights because it considers that to be a norm for abortion. He opposed long-agreed international language in UN resolutions.
Trump also cut funding to the UN Population Fund in 2017 because he said it “supports or participates in the management of a coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization program.”
The UN said that was an inaccurate perception. The administration of President Joe Biden has restored the funding.
