Many people probably have no idea of the social, emotional and cultural impact that the Roe v. Wade decision has had around the world since it was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973.
The decision protected the right to abortion. In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned this decision, ending the constitutional right to abortion in the United States.
The lasting impact of the original decision and its repeal was not lost on a small group of women and men who marched through the streets of Kelowna on Monday (June 24).
Women’s Strike – Today, events took place in communities across Canada and the United States to march for reproductive justice.
“We held a march the year the verdict was overturned and wanted to show our solidarity on this anniversary,” said Candace Banks, organizer of the Kelowna march.
She added that this is not just about abortion, but about all reproductive rights.
“There’s a huge scope. We’re talking about people who have a uterus, whether they identify as cisgender women, transgender people or nonbinary people. We want them to be taken seriously and not oppressed.”
About 15 people marched from the Sails to the Kelowna Courthouse with signs chanting “My body, my choice” and “Abortion is healthcare.”
“Not every abortion is a termination of a pregnancy that the person concerned does not want to carry to term,” said march co-organizer Andyrea Couwenhoven. “Access to these procedures ensures the safety and health of those concerned and the people affected by them.”
Compared to the United States, Banks said Canada has stagnated in the provision of abortion services.
“We are not seeing improved access to it. There are still many provinces where abortion and reproductive health are not practical.”
Couwenhoven noted that services in BC are far better
“We have Options for Sexual Health, a clinic that offers pregnancy counseling. Not only does it provide access to abortion, it also provides STI testing and contraception.”
However, she said there are limited options for surgical abortions. She noted that there are also barriers for many people to access IVF treatments and contraception.
Banks and Couwenhoven are concerned about what they believe is the American-style evangelical, far-right views that are creeping into Canadian politics around the abortion debate.
“We are here to say that the overwhelming majority of Canadians want choice,” Couwenhoven added. “To underscore that, not only must health care be universal, but abortion is health care and should be enshrined in our laws.”
She said the scope of the problem is greater than many people realize.
“This kind of regressive policy is extremely unpopular. Only a select few are spreading this message. We hope we speak for most Canadians when we see what is going on in other countries and we disagree with it.”
