SWINE
bigger picture surrounding reproductive rights.
service and legislation alone are not enough."
Having lawmakers “exempt” rape survivors from such draconian laws sends the message that women should only be granted bodily autonomy if something as terrible as rape happens to them. Women should be granted bodily autonomy permanently, not on a case by case basis dependent on factors deemed appropriate by a bunch of people who don't even know our names, let alone what is best for us in a reproductive sense.
‘Even once decriminalised, governments must invest in services that support women. Tasmania for example, has decriminalised abortion, yet there are no clinics available in the state and women have to travel to the mainland for care.’ Adjunct Professor Ward says the Australian College of Nursing acknowledges the Australian states and territories that have modernised their regulations, but stresses that "women should not be disadvantaged due to their location."
A rape survivor should never under any circumstances have to give birth to her rapist's child, and an 18-year-old student or 30-year-old woman or any type of person should have the choice to proceed with a pregnancy or safely terminate. Reproductive rights are rights we should all possess.
‘Consistency in abortion laws across the country should be enforced.’ Though M was situated thousands of kilometres away from her family at the time of her abortion, her experience was a smooth one. She is now 22, happily childless, and has recently graduated university with a Master’s degree.
On top of this frustrating debate we could also wax lyrical about the need for quality, holistic sex education earlier on in life as a “preventative measure” against unwanted pregnancies. But to save SWINE editors precious space, that will have to be another rant for another (abstinence-only DOES NOT work) day.
Not all abortion experiences might wind up painless, or be so easy to follow through with, but imagine every woman in Australia having full, safe, easy to access autonomy over their bodies and their reproductive rights, without shame or fear of being labelled a criminal?
The NSW Lower House recently passed the bill to decriminalise abortion, which is an incredibly positive, historic, and wholly overdue development. But the work should not end once abortion is decriminalised Australia-wide.
How good would that be? *Name has been changed to protect identity
Australian College of Nursing CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward said "lip
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