Restrictive abortion law takes effect in TexasAbortion opponents protest in the state capitol in Texas, where a new restrictive law on ending pregnancies has taken effectWASHINGTON - A Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant, took effect on Wednesday after the Supreme Court failed to act on an emergency request to block it. The American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights and other groups filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Monday, asking it to stop the Texas law from taking effect. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the US House of Representatives, said the failure of the Supreme Court to act has "delivered catastrophe to women in Texas." According to the ACLU, "approximately 85 to 90 percent" of women who obtain an abortion in Texas are at least six weeks into pregnancy. The Texas law "creates a bounty hunting scheme that encourages the general public to bring costly and harassing lawsuits against anyone who they believe has violated the ban," the ACLU said.

Source: Bangkok Post September 01, 2021 15:11 UTC