The Violation of Women’s Rights in America

Published in Tokyo Shimbun
(Japan) on 7 July 2022
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Joseph Santiago. Edited by Lisa Attanasio.
The United States Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision which had guaranteed the right to abortion in America since 1973, and its holding has thrown a woman's right to control over her life and body into question. Should we really be trying to turn back time, though?

Now the legality of abortion has been relegated to America’s 50 states, with more than half of them moving to either further regulate or outright ban the procedure.

In the very religious superpower known as America, this ruling is inherently tied to the Christian faith, as many Christians who believe that “life is a gift from God” are applauding the latest ruling. Meanwhile, people are protesting the decision around the country, and many fear that this will only further divide American society.

As Roe v. Wade is partially responsible for the strides women have taken in society and education over the past 50 years, many fear that this recent decision overturning it will roll back these advances. Furthermore, the impoverished will suffer the most, people who can’t afford to travel to another state for an abortion, burdening them further with an unwanted pregnancy and unwanted child.

The apparent politicization of the Supreme Court is also a serious issue. Its justices are handpicked by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the court is made up of six conservative justices and three liberal justices, and five of the court's conservatives joined the majority 6-3 decision.

The Supreme Court determines the path that society takes when the court decides issues involving race and same-sex marriage, among others that divide public opinion. Theoretically, those with balanced views and positions that transcend party lines are suitable for nomination to the court. However, requirements for nomination to the Supreme Court justices were relaxed during the Trump administration. Previously, a nominee needed at least 60 votes in the Senate to be confirmed, but with the requirement lowered to 51, the party that controls the Senate can decide on a nomination without the support of the other party. This allowed President Donald Trump to fill three spots with conservative justices.

The Democrats introduced a similar requirement for the lower courts during the Obama administration. Turning judges into pawns on a political chess board like this has become the catalyst for a nightmare.


<社説>米国の中絶規制 女性の権利を侵すな

人工妊娠中絶は憲法が保障する権利だと認めた一九七三年の判決を米連邦最高裁が覆した。自分の身体と人生のことは自分が決める、という女性の自己決定権を奪う司法判断である。時計の針を戻すべきではない。
 これで各州が中絶を認めるかどうかを決めることになり、全米五十州のうち半数余りの州が中絶の禁止・規制に動くとみられる。
 宗教大国の米国で中絶の問題はキリスト教の信仰と密接に結び付いている。「命は神からの賜物(たまもの)」との信仰に基づいて中絶に反対するキリスト教保守派は、今回の最高裁判決を歓迎している。一方で、各地で判決への抗議運動も起きている。社会の分断が一段と深まったことを憂慮する。
 七三年判決は、過去五十年近くにわたる女性の社会進出や教育機会の拡大を促す追い風になった。今回の判決がこれに対する逆流現象を引き起こさないか懸念する。
 最もしわ寄せを受けるのは貧困層である。経済的余裕があれば、中絶を認める州に行って処置を受けるのは可能だ。それが無理な貧困層は、望まない出産によって一層の窮状に追い込まれかねない。
 あらわになった最高裁の政治化も由々しき問題である。最高裁判事は大統領が指名し上院が承認する。現在九人いる最高裁判事の構成は保守派六人、リベラル派三人と偏っており、今回の判決は五人の保守派による多数意見だ。
 最高裁は人種や同性婚など国論が分かれる問題で社会の方向性を決定付けてきた。本来ならばバランス感覚を持ち、党派を超えて支持される人が判事にふさわしい。
 ところがトランプ政権時代に判事の承認要件が緩和された。上院(定数一〇〇)で六十票以上の賛成が必要だったのが、五十一票以上に引き下げられ、多数党だけで承認が可能になった。これでトランプ前大統領は保守派三人の判事を最高裁に送り込んだ。
 もっとも民主党もオバマ政権時代に下級審の判事の承認要件を同じように緩和させたことがある。判事人事を政争の具にしたことは大きな禍根となった。
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