Right to life and abortion : a study on the legal controversy of the status of the unborn child in international human rights law

Abstract

Abortion has been practiced from the very beginning of ancient history and from then the question of human existence has long been linked to this issue. This sensitive issue is one of the debated matters in the public discourse and it is very intellectually difficult even for an expert to give a simple answer of issue that it raises. The matter of abortion is related to legal, political, social, ethical, scientific, religious, and human rights matters. Many countries of the world have enacted laws regarding abortion in their legal systems either supporting or opposing the issues. The debate has not yet reached a unanimous conclusion. Various instruments of international law contain significant provisions in this regard but not in a uniform way. The aim of this study is to determine the status of the fetus according to international legal standards and to recommend viable, universally accepted international legislation for proper compliance and implementations of abortion laws.