Since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Republican stronghold Texas has become one of 22 states banning abortion, including in cases of incest or rape. Since the ban, Texas has seen a 56 percent increase in its maternal mortality rate. FRANCE 24’s Valérie Defert and Pierrick Leurent report.
In June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the federal protection of abortion rights, which had been guaranteed by the Roe v. Wade ruling since 1973. As a result, states regained full control of the issue, giving rise to a patchwork of legislation. So far, 22 states have banned abortion partially or fully.
Texas has banned abortions even in cases of incest or rape. The only exception is in the event of danger of death or risk of serious disability for the mother.
Doctors in the state now face up to 99 years in prison, a $100,000 fine and cancellation of their medical licence if they perform an abortion outside the framework defined by the law.
Faced with this criminalisation of abortion, Texan women are forced to obtain the abortion pill illegally by post, or undertake arduous and costly journeys to have abortions in other states. The maternal mortality rate in Texas has risen by 56 percent.
Our correspondents report from Texas, a symbol of post-Roe America.
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