The Future

Idaho Capital Sun - March 21, 2025

North Idaho legislators have introduced a bill to amend Idaho's strict abortion ban, adding exceptions for cases where the mother faces serious health risks or when a fetus has a lethal anomaly. This bill aims to clarify the law, as current provisions only allow abortion to prevent the mother's death, leaving doctors uncertain about other critical health situations.

Despite the bill's introduction, Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog expressed doubts about advancing it this year, highlighting ongoing tensions within the legislature over abortion-related issues. The bill's sponsors hope it sparks conversation about improving medical care in the state.

Council on Foreign Relations - March 7, 2024

The article "Abortion Law: Global Comparisons" from the Council on Foreign Relations examines the global landscape of abortion law in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. It discusses how abortion laws have generally liberalized globally over the past 50 years, particularly in industrialized nations.

The article notes that while abortion rates have remained steady worldwide, countries with restrictive abortion laws have seen higher abortion rates. The safety of abortion procedures is also highlighted, with a stark contrast between countries where abortion is legal and those with severe restrictions.

NPR - March 4, 2024

France has officially enshrined the right to an abortion in its constitution. This historic move was spurred by concerns over the rollback of abortion rights in the U.S. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, France's lawmakers, led by President Emmanuel Macron, sought to solidify the right to abortion by amending Article 34 of the French Constitution. The law has long been in place in France, but the constitutional amendment guarantees irreversible access to abortion.

Public support for this move is high, with 90% of French citizens supporting abortion rights and 86% favoring its inclusion in the constitution. This step is seen as a significant victory for women's rights in France, with no major political opposition. Abortion care in France is reimbursed by the national health care system.

MSI UK

In England, Scotland, and Wales, you can legally have an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, in line with the Abortion Act 1967. In Northern Ireland, abortion was decriminalised in 2019, and the new legal framework came into effect in 2020. Abortion is now unconditionally legal up to 12 weeks in Northern Ireland. After 12 weeks, the law is similar to the rest of the UK.

In the UK, after 24 weeks, abortion is only permitted if there are serious risks to the woman's health or in cases of fetal abnormalities. Abortion services are provided by the NHS and can be free of charge, with options for private services available. Recent changes also allow for home use of abortion pills up to 10 weeks.