Statement on Draft SCOTUS Decision – Roe

Statement on Draft SCOTUS Decision Leaked, Overturning Roe v. Wade

May 2022

The Zonta USA Caucus is deeply disturbed by the recently leaked draft opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States, which would overturn the settled case law, Roe v. Wade.

If this decision and rationale is ultimately issued by the Supreme Court, it would represent a break with established precedent impacting all women in the USA and would bode poorly for the protection of other rights currently guaranteed in our Constitution.

Zonta International believes every person should have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies and to safely and privately access healthcare.

In order to ensure that women have access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as called for in UN Sustainable Development Goal #5, the US must not turn the clock back by overturning the Roe v. Wade decision. Goal #5 Gender Equality, expressly states that women must have access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

If this ruling is issued, the Supreme Court would once again establish a state’s right to discriminate against all women and perpetuate inequality among women who can afford access to healthcare and those that cannot.

The Zonta USA Caucus deplores the potential rescission of rights held by women in the United States for more than a generation. Congress should now take action to expressly codify into law the rights obtained in Roe v. Wade.

Download the statement