How the Dobbs Ruling Put the United States in Violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
This is a summary of a report to the Human Rights Committee. You can read the full report here.
The June 2022 Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization eliminated federal constitutional protection for access to abortion in the United States. Following Dobbs, more than a dozen states fully banned abortion, and many others passed or proposed increased restrictions. On October 17-18, 2023, the Human Rights Committee will review US compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), including the impact of Dobbs on its human rights obligations.
ICCPR-Protected Human Rights Violated by Dobbs Ruling
Rights to life and to be free from torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment
- Violated by the denial and criminalization of necessary medical care
Rights to privacy and free speech
- Violated as law enforcement investigates pregnancy outcomes, reproductive autonomy is curtailed, and providers are censured for providing accurate healthcare information
Right to be free from all forms of discrimination
- Violated by the discriminatory purpose and effects of abortion bans