Almost a year post-Roe, Canada must do more on ‘backsliding’ risk: report
Global News
A foreign affairs committee of MPs heard from more than 20 witnesses regarding women's rights, pored over briefs from nine individuals and organizations before issuing its report.
Almost one year after the fall of Roe v. Wade, the risk of more “backsliding” of sexual and reproductive rights around the world is real — and Canada needs to do more to “scale up” its support, a parliamentary committee is urging in a new report.
The House of Commons foreign affairs committee heard from more than 20 witnesses and pored over briefs from nine individuals and organizations before issuing its report.
Its findings focused on how Canada should approach support for sexual and reproductive health and rights on a global scale, amid what some witnesses who testified as part of the probe described as an “organized movement” against women’s rights.
At the same time, the report noted some countries have seen progress including Benin, Argentina, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mexico where abortion has become more available.
“Every woman in Canada or around the world has the freedom and the right to make decisions over their own bodies and over their own sexual and reproductive health, that includes a right to access safe and legal abortions,” Liberal MP Rachel Bendayan said during a press conference about the report on Monday. Bendayan is a member of the committee.
Witnesses told the committee that Canada’s approach and commitment have been “historic” and “unique.” But they added that investment in a “comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health services” can not only save lives but “lessen the burden” on the health system.
NDP MP Heather MacPherson said while the overturning of Roe was the “impetus” for the study, “attacks on women’s rights are happening around the world right now.”
“We’ve also heard of legislation being brought forward in other countries, Poland comes to mind; many countries where access to sexual health is not available, access to abortion is not available.”