For the last 3 months, many states in the United States have amended their abortion laws, making them more strict and difficult. Many people, especially women, have been protesting against the changing laws since then.
Abortion laws in other developed nations are not so easy and smooth. Abortions are legal in one of the most developed nations, Japan, but there are certain terms and conditions that a female has to fulfill before undergoing the process, as reported by the Washington Post.
In Japan, a woman has to take consent from her husband/ father of the child before the abortion. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, an international organization, Japan is the only country of G7 nations that has such a strict law for abortions.
Moreover, consent from the husband highlights patriarchy and male chauvinism in society. As the law is applicable to unmarried women as well, it is leading to many cases of women abandoning their babies in public places.
Although abortions are legal in Japan but only at a very high surgical cost, moreover, contraceptive pills are not popular among people, and the morning-after pills require a prescription.
Currently, Japan is thinking about whether to make abortion pills available or not. The World Health Organization has declared these pills a safer option for avoiding unwanted pregnancies.
Japan consistently ranks low among developed countries on women’s development. For instance, it took Japan more than 40 years to adopt birth control pills in 1999. The same year, the Health Ministry approved viagra within 6 months.
Also, Japan’s population is aging at a fast rate. In recent years, many politicians have even raised the issue of whether women should have an option of abortion, citing the declining population and low birth rate of the country. This perception is seen among some parts of the population as well.
On the other hand, advocates of abortion say that female health and demographic needs are two separate issues and shouldn’t be mixed.
