[ad_1]
South Korean court orders government to respect abortion rights years later South Korea Women and girls continue to lack access to these essential sexual and reproductive services.
On May 17, the South Korean court reject one appeal It was jointly initiated by Women on Web (WoW), a non-governmental organization that provides information on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and Open Net Korea, a digital rights protection organization. Civilized Society Organization, unblocking World of Warcraft websiteKorea Communications Standards Commission 2019It claimed the company had violated the country’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Act by connecting women who needed abortion pills (which have not yet been legalised in the country) with overseas pharmacists.
But also in 2019, the Constitutional Court of South Korea overthrow The decision left the next move to the National Assembly, but when it failed to reform the law by the end of 2020 as required, abortion became a permanent ban. legalization In 2021.
Since then, the government has made little effort to update the law, leaving abortion in a legal grey area, leaving women and girls unsure where and how to access affordable and safe abortion services. Amendments are also needed to include abortion as a covered medical procedure under the national insurance scheme.
The lack of progress is not surprising, as the president was elected on an anti-feminist agenda and promised abolition Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The Government has also begun exclude The term “women’s” derives from policies that were originally aimed at women’s rights issues (e.g., violence against women), claiming that there was no systemic sexism.
The data tells a different story. South Korea The largest gender pay gap in OECD countries. 12 consecutive yearsSouth Korea ranked last Glass Ceiling IndexThe survey assesses women’s chances of equal treatment at work by measuring factors such as wages, childcare and representation in senior roles.
The government’s disregard for women and girls’ right to access abortion services is part of an extremely sexist pattern. The South Korean government should unblock the WoW website and amend the law, including by legalizing abortion pills (which are on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines), so that women and girls can access safe and affordable abortion services. This is essential to protecting their autonomy, health, and well-being. And, according to the country’s Constitutional Court, it is the law.
[ad_2]
Source link
