Secretary of State says US will continue to advocate for reproductive health around the world, even as rights curtailed at home
Antony Blinken said he rarely discusses Supreme Court rulings but wanted to ‘be clear’ after Friday decision
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has issued a rare statement on a Supreme Court ruling following the reversal of Roe v Wade - reaffirming in clear language that his department “will not waver” from its commitment to reproductive health care.
The Supreme Court on Friday reversed nearly 50 years of legal abortion facilitated by the 1973 Roe v Wade decision, leaving it up to the states to decide and paving the way for several to automatically enact trigger bans.
“As Secretary of State, I usually avoid commenting on Supreme Court rulings,” Mr Blinken said Friday. “But today’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade has raised understandable questions and concerns across the world and within our workforce.
“So let me be clear: under this Administration, the State Department will remain fully committed to helping provide access to reproductive health services and advancing reproductive rights around the world. And this Department will do everything possible to ensure that all our employees have access to reproductive health services, wherever they live.
“We will not waver from this commitment.”
The State Department has thousands of employees working across the US in addition to other countries. Its Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), for example, incorporates 29 domestic offices - including six in states that have already implemented abortion bans.
The Department did not immediately respond to a request from The Independent about whether it was putting plans in place to prepare for employees living in those states who may need to access abortions in the future.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments