While browsing through the Human Rights Watch website, I was particularly drawn to the topic of the abortion ban in the Dominican Republic. I was drawn to this mainly because I traveled to the Dominican Republic about 2 years ago, but I had no idea there was ever a ban on abortion. The topic also reminded me of our own nation and how our president was advocating to ban abortions while he was running for the presidency. So, naturally, I was dragged in by this topic to learn more.

 

 

While reading about the abortion ban in the article, Dominican Republic: Abortion Ban Endangers Health, I was surprised and disturbed by the amount of new information I was reading. The article overall discusses the effects the abortion ban has had on women of all ages and more specifically the effects it has on their health. Many women seek an abortion for a variety of reasons including life-threatening pregnancies, an incident of rape, or the women simply cannot afford to provide for the child. Regardless of the reason, the Dominican Republic does not tolerate any of them, leaving the Human Rights Watch extremely concerned. According to the article, the HRW has grown more concerned to the topic not only because banning abortion denies women of their sexual and reproductive rights, but also because it is forcing women to seek abortions through dangerous, harmful, and possibly illegal methods. One passage that stood out to me in the article that touched on this possible harm women are putting themselves through says, “Others tried to end pregnancies, including by taking or inserting pills; using home remedies; trying to induce poor health, for example by denying themselves food or water; taking prescription medications contraindicated during pregnancy; or trying to induce physical trauma. One woman said she beat her belly with a concrete block,” (1). I was very shocked from this passage that women were willing to go as far as beating themselves with a concrete block to try to pursue an abortion. I also found myself to be extremely distraught after reading this because this law banning abortions is forcing women to put themselves through these extremes because they feel as though they have no other option. The hopelessness they must have been feeling to do these harmful things to themselves is what really pains me and also makes me side with the HRW.

 

 

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I believe that this ban on abortion mainly violates article 25 of the UDHR, which states, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control,” (1). This ban wrongfully goes against the article because it is limiting women the right to a standard of living through medical care. They are not living properly having to harm themselves for an abortion and not receiving the right to security in the event of sickness if their pregnancy risks their own life.