There has been some debate between ideologically opposed groups about whether women who are harassed and/or beaten to cause them to have unwanted abortions have been ‘forced’ or ‘coerced’.
Some claim an abortion is only ‘forced’ if physical force — eg, kidnapping — is involved, and that all other abortions have been ‘chosen’ by the women concerned, even where women have been harassed or brutalised to cause them to comply.
Abortion Concern considers the distinction between ‘forced’ and ‘coerced’ abortions irrelevant, as both are internationally recognised as human rights abuses.
“Coerced abortion is explicitly recognized as a violation of basic rights and principles.”
What concerns us about the ‘forced’ versus ‘coerced’ argument is that it (a) dismisses the fact that coerced abortions are human rights abuses, and (b) legitimises abuse of women by implying that any woman who had an abortion because she was unable to withstand being psychologically or physically abused, got what she deserved.
Abortion may be legal in many developed countries, but abuse of pregnant women is not.
Both ‘forced’ and ‘coerced’ abortions should be opposed as fundamental human rights abuses.
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