Today, the Georgia Supreme Court upheld the state’s six-week abortion ban (LIFE Act), in a ruling reversing the lower’s court decision that stated that the law was invalid. In November 2022, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said that the law was “unequivocally unconstitutional” because it was enacted in 2019, when Roe v. Wade allowed abortions well past six weeks. However, today the Georgia Supreme Court made a decision on the basis of the current status of Roe v. Wade, which occurred after the LIFE Act was enacted. The case was remanded back to the trial court for decision while keeping the law in place.
Georgia’s LIFE Act bans, with some very limited exceptions, abortion when early cardiac activity is detected – which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The ban limits options and safe avenues in women’s healthcare.
Women Watch Afrika is disappointed but not surprised by the Georgia Supreme Court’s terrible decision to keep this invasive abortion ban on the books. In a land that is supposed to be more advanced and that is supposed to advocate for freedoms and rights, this decision is continuing to take the state of Georgia backwards. It is pulling the state and country back towards the time when Black people were enslaved and had no control over their bodies, and to when all women were considered property. This ban–and the decision upholding it–limits safe avenues and options in healthcare for women. Women deserve to make decisions about our bodies and our families. This is a fundamental right issue– it is about making decisions for ourselves about our futures. Women Watch Afrika stands in solidarity with our partners and communities as we continue the fight for women’s rights. The explicit denial of protection over a woman’s right to her body is a serious disregard of fundamental rights. And as usual, this decision and all decisions like this, will always affect the marginalized communities hardest: people of color and low-income communities are most vulnerable to this, though it affects us all. Now more than ever, voting for the right issues matter: women’s rights are human rights.
— Preye Cobham, Esq., Legal Director, Women Watch Afrika
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As an expert in this field, Women Watch Afrika provides trainings as a consultant on numerous issues. For more information on training, guidance, consulting services, and/or information on working with immigrant communities contact Glory Kilanko, Founder and Executive Director, Women Watch Afrika, Inc. at 404-759-6419 or womenwatchafrika@gmail.com
About Women Watch Afrika:
Women Watch Afrika is a grassroots, nonprofit, international, national, and local social justice organization focused on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls, the promotion of social and economic development and health equity of women, and the acculturation of immigrants and refugees (men and women) arriving to the United States from 23 African nations.
In line with its goal, Women Watch Afrika provides Social Services, Legal Services, Advocacy, Health Education, Legal Education, End Domestic Violence classes, Stop FGM/C workshops, Reproductive Rights Education, Know Your Rights workshops, Citizenship Preparation, Civic Engagement; and Advocates against unjust, discriminatory laws that affect the community.
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