Abortion raises serious ethical and religious concerns and is a subject that continues to elicit strong responses from both opponents and proponents of the practice. Official global statistics on the practice of abortion are low, as many are not reported. However, it is estimated that 42-50 million abortions are carried out annually, with 1.37million of these occurring in the US alone (CBR, 1). The reasons that would compel a woman to procure an abortion are numerous. CBR, (1) reports that they include: rape (1%); health concerns (6%); and social reasons (93%). Therefore, abortion should be banned except in medical emergencies in countries all over the world.
A vital and contentious issue on human rights is a valid concern at this point. Human rights movements across the globe advocate for the right to life, yet many contradict themselves on the issue of abortion. Sadly, it has been argued that a fetus is only viable if it can survive outside the mother, making any fetus unviable before the age of 28 weeks. However, life begins at conception, and from this moment, since we value life as a global community, we should not take the fetal right to live as a non-issue before it achieves a certain age. To do so would be hypocritical, contradictory, and pretentious. Proponents argue that it is the maternal right to keep or dispose of her unborn child, but what of the right of the fetus she is carrying? Is it ethical that as a living human being, it is does not merit to have human rights and can be disposed as easily as rubbish? Only in the case of medical emergencies should an abortion be performed, and its practice should be banned globally.
Works Cited
Centre for Bio-ethical Reform. Abortion Facts. Web. 18 August 2012. Retrieved from http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html
Trupin Suzanne. Abortion. Web. 18 August 2012. Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/abortion/article_em.htm
