The power to decide on abortion rights is now to be given to the 50 US states to determine individually.
The US Supreme Court has voted to overturn the right to choose abortion which has existed for almost 50 years in the country.
The power to decide on abortion rights is now to be given to the 50 US states to determine individually, which means many may severely restrict or ban the practice.
At least 25 states are expected to introduce new laws, or reactivate dormant ones, making it illegal to access abortion in many cases.
This includes in some instances, where conception has resulted from rape or incest.
Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi are three of 13 states which have so-called “trigger bans” in place, meaning abortion will be banned immediately as of Friday (24 June) or soon after, Sky News reported.
One of the most consequential rulings by the Supreme Court in recent history, the decision overturns a 1973 ruling known as “Roe versus Wade”.
The latter legalised abortion nationwide up to the point of foetal viability, which is generally accepted to be around 24 weeks into pregnancy.
A leak in May to Politico warned the court was set to overturn the decision.
According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, internationally, the decision will make the US one of only four countries since 1994 to restrict abortion, with the others being El Salvador, Nicaragua and Poland.
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