Traditional Christian values and women's reproductive rights in modern Russia--is a consensus ever possible?
Erofeeva, L.Vladimirovna.
American Journal of Public Health 103(11): 1931-1934
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0090-0036 PMID: 24028250 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2013.301329Document Number: 641623
Recently in Russia, abortion rights have been attacked. For decades, Russian women could have an elective abortion up to week 12 of pregnancy; between 12 and 22 weeks, medical or social grounds were required for an abortion. In mid 2011, a group of Parliamentarians teamed up with Russian Orthodox Church activists and announced their desire to ban abortions, and the new version of the health law with restricting amendments was introduced: a mandatory waiting period, physicians' conscientious objection, and limiting the social indications for late-term abortion. Evidence indicates that restricting legislative changes based on "traditional" values could significantly limit women's reproductive choices (e.g., access to abortion), a setback to women's rights to exert control over their bodies and their lives.