Last Friday’s news that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision declaring the constitutional right to abortion, is a gut punch to the local and global health community’s work in health, gender equity, and social justice. University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D. also issued the following statement on June 24th.
Co-director of the UC Global Health Institute Center for Gender and Health Justice, Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH on the decision:
“This devastating decision to overturn Roe v. Wade goes against everything science has taught us and is a clear attack on women and pregnant-capable people. Abortion is safe, essential healthcare that should be available to all people who need it, not doled out based on state politics. Research shows that many people will not be able to overcome the cost and distance challenges to reach a state where abortion will be legal – leaving them with few options to control their futures. Given this will fall even more on the shoulders of Americans who are already trying to make ends meet, health and gender inequality will only increase.”
We are now facing a slippery slope of harmful policies posing a direct threat to this country’s most vulnerable populations, particularly low-income women and birthing people of color. UCGHI stands firm in its support of access to safe abortion care as a critical part of healthcare.
And there is much to be done globally to provide women in low- and middle-income countries the same reproductive right opportunities that we are advocating for locally.
For those who would like to take immediate action, check out the various demonstrations taking place across the country. We encourage you to follow the California Home Abortion by Telehealth study led by Dr. Upadhyay to find out more on expanding telehealth and medication abortion during this critical time.
In solidarity,
UC Global Health Institute