International Standards Of Human Rights Research Articles

Exploring the Intersection of Pancasila and Human Rights in Indonesian Law

This research aims to explore the intersection of Pancasila and human rights in Indonesian law . The research investigates how Pancasila, as the foundational philosophy of Indonesia, can be aligned with the principles of human rights as enshrined in internationalhuman rights instruments . Methode The research methodology includes a comprehensive analysis of relevant Indonesian laws, constitutional provisions, and international human rights standards. The research also utilizes a comparative approach, examining how other countries have integrated their national philosophies with human rights principles .The findings of this research highlight the potential harmonization between Pancasila and human rights principles in Indonesian law . By recognizing the fundamental values of Pancasila, such as social justice, unity, and religious freedom, Indonesian law can uphold and protect human rights forall individuals within the country.Through the alignment of Pancasila with international human rights standards, Indonesia can ensure that its legal framework promotes and protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of all. Implication for Student research provides a unique opportunity to engage in critical thinking and analysis of the ethical and legal frameworks that shape their country. By delving into case studies and legislative decisions, students can develop a nuanced understanding of how Pancasila influences the interpretation and application of human rights laws, thereby fostering a more informed and empowered citizenry.

International cooperation and its role in ensuring everyone’s right to health care and medical assistance

The article states that the right to health care and medical care is a guarantee of the right to life. To the state in accordance with Part 2 of Art. 3 of the Constitution of Ukraine is entrusted with the duty to affirm and ensure human rights and freedoms, including the right of everyone to health care and medical assistance. Such a duty of the state is defined as the main one among its other duties. For its implementation, Ukraine must create an effective mechanism for ensuring the above-mentioned right. The Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and, as a result, Russia’s temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine, the commission of crimes in such territories that fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and testify to violations of human rights in the field of health care, have actualized the issue of the specifics of international cooperation of states in the field of health care under conditions of military occupation, pandemics, etc. and its role in ensuring the above-mentioned right of every person. The doctrinal approaches to defining the concepts of «cooperation», «international cooperation», and international treaties on human rights are analyzed. It has been established that diametrically opposite points of view are expressed in the scientific literature: from the declaration of cooperation as a duty of states to the complete denial of the legal force of this principle. The author’s definition of the concept of international cooperation in the field of health care is formulated - it is a complex of legal means, methods and institutions that are the result of joint multilateral or bilateral activities of states and which they use to achieve common goals of sustainable development in the field of health care in accordance with generally recognized principles and norms of international law. Attention is focused on the fact that the result of international cooperation are international standards of human rights in the field of health care, which are adopted by international organizations of a universal and regional nature, and which are implemented in national legislation, but such standards are the result of the cooperation of states, albeit within the framework international intergovernmental organizations, since these organizations are not endowed with special competence by nature, but are endowed by states by defining it in the charter of such organizations.

Formation and development of the idea of guaranteeing human and civil rights and freedoms in the theoretical and legal heritage of Ukraine

The article is devoted to the analysis of historical development and formation of the ideas of guaranteeing human and civil rights and freedoms in the context of the theoretical and legal heritage of Ukraine. The author examines the key stages of the evolution of legal ideas, from ancient times to the present, noting the influence of different historical periods on the formation of the modern concept of human rights. Knowledge of the historical experience and theoretical foundations of human rights guarantees helps to formulate strategies and policies that can ensure real protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in conditions when they are threatened by external aggression and internal challenges. The article focuses on the importance of developing a natural law concept based on the principles of freedom, equality and justice, which are considered fundamental to understanding human rights. A special place in the analysis is occupied by the study of the Lithuanian Statute, Magdeburg Lawand the role of polemical works in the development of legal consciousness. The authors point to the multifaceted approaches to the study of human rights, their origin, content and relationship with the state, emphasising the importance of democratic regimes in the consolidation and enforcement of rights and freedoms. The conclusions emphasise that the notion of human rights as natural and primary is crucial for the development of Ukrainian political and legal thought, which contributed to the formation of the rule of law and civil society in Ukraine. In the context of post-war reconstruction, the authors emphasise the critical importance of respecting and ensuring human rights and freedoms as a basis for the restoration and development of a democratic society. Democratic regimes that uphold the principles of freedom, equality and justice are key to the effective reconstruction and stabilisation of society. The adoption of international human rights standards and their integration into national policies will be key to successful post-war reconstruction, while laying a solid foundation for Ukraine’s future development.

Legality of restrictions on the right to freedom of movement in the conditions of armed conflict

The article examines the legitimate conditions for limiting the right to freedom of movement as established by international standards. It was determined that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains universal conditions for limiting all rights, without singling out freedom of movement. However, the act establishes general principles such as the exclusivity of restriction terms, formal certainty, and completeness of the list of restriction goals. Later documents supplemented these conditions with the social necessity of the restriction and the proportionality of the means of restriction with their legitimate goals. In the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in Protocol No. 4 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the legitimate purposes of restricting freedom of movement were separately defined. These include the protection of national security, public order, the health or morals of the population, the rights and freedoms of other persons, and the prevention of crimes. These limitations are exhaustive, and national legislation should not go beyond them. The author analyzed the conditions for admissibility of restricting the right to freedom of movement under normal and emergency conditions. It was concluded that general requirements apply to the restriction of the right to freedom of movement during a state of emergency (armed conflict), as well as to restrictions under normal conditions. These requirements include prohibitions of destruction and excessive restriction that would be contrary to international human rights standards, as well as encroachment on the essential content of the right to freedom of movement. The criteria for the admissibility of restrictions on the right to freedom of movement, such as legality, necessity, and legitimacy of the purpose of the restriction, should also be applied. However, under extraordinary conditions, such as a state of emergency, there are increased demands. The right to derogate from international human rights obligations is possible in the presence or imminence of public danger within the limits corresponding to the severity of the situation and according to the procedure of official and public notification. Characteristic signs of restriction of the right to freedom of movement in the conditions of an emergency are their massive but temporary nature.

Current Issues of Improving Proceedings in Cases of Administrative Offenses in the Context of Compliance with International Standards of Human Rights and Freedoms

The article examines the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights on the recognition of inconsistency of the procedure for consideration by Ukrainian courts of certain categories of administrative offenses with the basic provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 04.11.1950. Based on the analysis of the ECHR judgment "Bantysh and Others v. Ukraine", the provisions of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Law of Ukraine "On the Public Prosecutor's Office", and draft laws No. 10002 of 05.09.2023 and No. 10002-1 of 22.09.2023 on amendments to the current legislation of Ukraine on improving the proceedings in cases of administrative offenses, the author proves that the requirements of the European Court of Human Rights do not comply with the recommendations of the governing bodies of the European Union regarding the status of the public prosecutor's office in the system of law enforcement agencies, which may cause certain legal conflicts and problems with the application of the legislation on administrative offenses by the judicial authorities of Ukraine. Based on the results of the research, it is proposed to introduce changes to the current legislation of Ukraine in order to improve the status of the prosecutor in the proceedings in cases of administrative offenses and to determine the range of subjects authorized to represent the prosecution in relevant cases.

Harmony Unveiled: Sharia Law and Human Rights in Dubai's Justice

Utilizing a literature review as the primary method, this study delved into the navigation of tradition and modernity within Dubai's criminal justice system. The methodology entailed a comprehensive review of existing scholarly works, legal documents, and reports pertaining to the subject matter. The analysis synthesized insights from various sources to examine the system's integration of international human rights values and Sharia law principles. Additionally, it explored mechanisms for defending minority rights and assessed perceptions of the system's fairness and effectiveness among different segments of the population. Through this literature-based approach, key findings emerged. Firstly, the majority of sources indicated that the system effectively balances international human rights standards with Sharia law principles. Secondly, specialized courts and legal aid provisions were identified as mechanisms for safeguarding minority rights. Lastly, while the system was generally perceived as providing adequate protection, opportunities for improvement, such as enhancing access to justice for marginalized groups, were highlighted. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the Dubai criminal justice system has successfully negotiated tradition and modernity, offering valuable insights for other jurisdictions. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to evaluate the long-term implications of these findings and to refine strategies for ongoing enhancement in response to evolving societal demands.

소년예고범죄 예방을 위한 형사정책적 개선방안에 관한 연구

According to a media article, the Ministry of Justice announced a “comprehensive countermeasure against juvenile crimes” in October last year and announced legislation to revise the Juvenile Act to lower the age limit for young people from the current age of 14 to the age of 13. Since then, the National Assembly has also issued a series of bills, including criminal penalties for violent crimes. However, amendments to the Juvenile Act have been pending in the National Assembly for nearly a year. This is in conflict with the opposition that it violates the human rights of juvenile offenders and that it is difficult to expect the effect of preventing crime. In October last year, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea expressed opposition, saying that the lowering of the age of young people is contrary to the perspective of returning and recovering boys required by the UN (United Nations) international human rights standards and is not desirable as an alternative to crime prevention and recidivism. In response, the Ministry of Justice said, “Even if the age standard for juvenile is lowered, minor juvenile crimes will be sent to the juvenile department as they are now,” and explained, “Even if it is actually legislated, only violent crimes such as rape and robbery will be punished,” but it has not even been discussed. Some say that the degree of development of teenagers has increased compared to the past due to access to media, and that discussions on countermeasures should be made quickly. As we saw earlier, many of the posts were confirmed to be the work of teenagers, and the desire to be recognized as heroes within a group that mainly feels friendly as an online meme seeking stimulation and fun and a trend was revealed. This is very similar to terrorism in that socially isolated criminals carry out indiscriminate attacks against an unspecified number of people as an expression of anger toward others. Recently, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Police Agency held a meeting of related organizations to strengthen the response to the crime of abnormal motives (aka 'don't ask'). The meeting was prepared to discover additional measures and seek ways to strengthen cooperation with related ministries, recognizing that the public's anxiety is high due to a series of abnormal motive crimes such as the recent deadly weapon rampage, and to share measures to respond to abnormal motive crimes by each ministry, gather opinions on ways to cooperate and support the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, and discuss issues such as expanding crime prevention infrastructure such as security cameras (CCTV), expanding joint response models for mentally ill people, and supporting autonomous crime prevention activities. Boys' pre-announcement crimes are not yesterday or today because they have caused difficulties in their work in the past due to indiscriminate prank calls by investigative agencies. However, it seems that crime of don't ask and crime of abnormal motivation, which is not just a prank phone call, should no longer be ignored in our society.

ORGANIZATION OF LEGAL EDUCATION IN THE POST-SOVIET PERIOD (90S – 2000S)

The article examines the organization of legal education in the post-Soviet period, from the 90s to the 00s. The fall of the socialist system and the emergence of new states led to changes in the educational sphere, including in the field of legal education. The article analyzes the key changes and challenges faced by educational institutions during this period. As a result of the study, the main trends in the organization of legal education were identified, such as the revision of curricula and programs, the integration of international human rights standards into national educational programs, as well as the active introduction of interactive teaching methods. The importance of strengthening interaction between educational institutions, government bodies and society to create the best conditions for legal education is analyzed. In addition, the article discusses changes in the content of education: from the formation of new curricula to the introduction of advanced teaching methods and new approaches to assessing educational outcomes. An important part of the article is also a discussion of the significance of the development of civil society and the formation of respect for human rights and freedoms through the education system in the post-Soviet context. Overall, the article provides an overview of the key changes and challenges that legal education has faced in the post-Soviet period and discusses the importance of these processes for the development of society as a whole.

State Reconciliation in Resolving Cases of Past Serious Human Rights Violations (Case Study of the Trisakti Tragedy and May 1998 Riots)

In international human rights standards, there are four typs of serious human rights violations regulated in Article 5 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Indonesian goverment it self continues to strive to resolve cases of serious human rights violations, but until now these cases have not been resolved. The purpose of writing this journal aims to further analyze how serious human rights violations accurred in Indonesia in 1998 and analyze the process of resolving serious human rights violations during the ethnic Chinese diaspora incident and the Trisakti incident. The approach method used in writing this law is a normative approach with a qualitative approach described descriptively. By researching library materials or secondary data. The research spectifactions in writing this journal are analytical descriptive.

The Right To Motherhood Behind Bars: Evaluating The Conditions And Policies For Women Prisoners With Children In India

This research paper delves into the complex issue of motherhood behind bars in India, focusing on the evaluation of the conditions and policies affecting women prisoners with children. Given the growing concern for human rights and gender-specific needs within the penal system, this study aims to shed light on the lived experiences of incarcerated mothers and the operational realities of the policies designed to support them. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including interviews, surveys, and document analysis, the research examines the living conditions, healthcare access, nutritional standards, and child-rearing facilities within Indian women's prisons. It juxtaposes these findings against existing policies and their implementation, identifying gaps between policy and practice, and evaluating compliance with international human rights standards. The voices of incarcerated mothers are central to this analysis, providing invaluable insights into the challenges and needs faced by this vulnerable population. The study culminates in actionable recommendations for policy reforms, emphasizing the need for a humane approach that prioritizes the welfare and rights of both mothers and their children. This research contributes to the broader discourse on prison reform and women's rights, advocating for significant changes to ensure dignity and support for motherhood behind bars in India.

Confinement of People with Mental Disorders from the Perspective of Spiritual Leaders of Banggai Culture, Indonesia: An Ethnosemantic Approach

The practice of confinement of people with mental disorders not only infringes upon individuals’ fundamental rights but also contravenes established health legislation, including in Indonesia, the setting for this study. In this country, confinement may be practiced by isolation or seclusion in a room or a small hut built in the family’s garden or rice field, some ten-minute walk from the house to the hut. Leg restraints or shackles may also be used. This study delved into the significance of confining individuals with mental disorders by analyzing the linguistic expressions of spiritual leaders from the Banggai culture in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Engaging with cultural and spiritual leaders within a community is imperative to gain insights into the underlying perspectives that influence family decisionmaking processes. This exploration involved a detailed examination of the linguistic expressions these leaders conducted within the cultural context of the Banggai community from March to June 2023. This study employed an ethnosemantic approach and in-depth interviews according to the framework outlined in Spradley’s Developmental Research Sequence model. The participants were 13 cultural and spiritual leaders in the Banggai region, commonly referred to as Talapu. They were chosen using snowball sampling techniques.The data-gathering process was facilitated through in-depth interviews structured to incorporate descriptive queries, structured inquiries, and contrasting questions. The data processing involved the analysis of interview transcripts utilizing domain analysis, taxonomic analysis, and component analysis techniques. This analytical approach yielded 11 domains, six taxonomies, and six paradigms, contributing to identifying three distinct cultural themes. These themes were utilizing spiritual rituals as an intervention for the treatment of individuals with mental disorders, the multifaceted roles played by Talapu in managing individuals with mental disorders, and the association between Talapu and the practice of confining individuals with mental disorders. The use of physical restraint and confinement by the Talapu in treating individuals with mental disorders raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding autonomy, non-maleficence, and adherence to international human rights standards in contemporary nursing practice. Nurses in Indonesia should engage in collaborative education with the Talapu, emphasizing the careful and strategic implementation of Indonesia’s health legislation to prohibit human rights infringements, ensuring effective treatment and psychosocial support for individuals with mental disorders, and promoting their seamless integration into family and society.

집회 장소 규제 비판

This thesis is aimed at critically evaluating place restrictions of the Assembly and Demonstration Act(ADA, hereinafter) on peaceful assemblies. For this purpose, I examined whether article 11 of the ADA regulating the place of assemblies is compatible with the obligations of the states to protect and promote freedom of peaceful assembly stipulated in various international human rights norms. While the main subject of this article is article 11 designating the perimeters of places such as courts, parliaments or other official buildings as areas where assemblies may not take place, Articles 8 and 12 are also studied insofar as they contribute to the suppression of the right to freedom of peaceful assemblies. The assessment of those provisions is carried out in accordance with international human rights standards, which are well summarized in such documents as General Comment No. 37 by Human Rights Committee (2020), Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) (2010), and Guide on Article 11 of the Convention: Freedom of assembly and association by European Court of Human Rights (2021).
 In the course of the assessment, I could demonstrate, above all, that Article 11 of the ADA is contrary to the international human rights standards. First, it inverts the relationship between freedom and restrictions by imposing bans on the location of assemblies as the rule and then allowing exceptions. Second, Article 11, prohibiting assemblies near locations that should be considered as public places, runs counter to the international norm that any restrictions on assemblies in and around such places be specifically justified and narrowly circumscribed. Third, under Article 11, whether an assembly falls within the exceptions therein or not is left entirely to the discretion of the regulatory authorities, which would be against the principle of legality the core of which is predictability. Fourth and finally, Article 11, making the judgment on admissibility of assemblies near such places depend on who the organizer of the assembly is, constitutes a violation of the principle of non-discrimination.
 In short, the ADA, combining the prohibition of assemblies near major public institutions and other place restrictions, makes freedom of peaceful assembly nominal and meaningless. Therefore the ADA has no reason to exist. The ADA can contribute to freedom of peaceful assembly and democracy only by being abolished.

Political Financing around the World: A Historical Overview and Financing Models; Which Model for Uganda?

This paper provides an overview of political financing in the world. This enables the proposal to select a suitable political financing model for Uganda. In this regard, an effort has been made to trace the origins of political financing from North America to Africa. The justification for its existence has also been illustrated. Political financing can facilitate the protection and promotion of international human rights standards. This is especially so, regarding citizens’ rights to participate in their public affairs. The paper also shows that money has justifiable and legitimate purposes in electoral campaigns. Its unregulated use, however, may lead to corruption. Finally, the paper suggests a political financing model appropriate to Uganda’s environment. Doctrinal methods of research were used to carry out the study. This method of research involves a library-based analysis of legal sources. There are two steps to the doctrinal research methods. The first step is finding the primary sources of law. The second step is the examination of these primary sources.

State-legal coercion as a method of implementing Ukraine’s political function in the conditions of martial law

The article examines state-legal coercion as a method of implementing Ukraine’s political function in modern conditions. Normative legal acts are identified, and measures of state-legal coercion in the conditions of a state of war are provided. In modern conditions, it is important that state-legal coercion is used in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, taking into account the rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as international human rights standards. It is important to ensure that it does not violate the rights and freedoms of citizens and is not used for political persecution. Ukraine, as a democratic country, is obliged to adhere to these principles in all aspects of its policy and activities. However, during the full-scale Russian invasion, significant changes were made to the current legislation, which affected the rights and obligations of ordinary citizens of Ukraine, as well as certain state bodies. These measures must be applied in accordance with normative legal acts and are temporary in nature, aimed at overcoming an emergency situation (military aggression) and restoring the normal functioning of the state. Due to the prolonged military aggression, state coercion measures are closely related to the sphere of human rights and the rule of law, which is the cornerstone of the implementation of our state’s political function. The state of war is characterized by significant changes in the legal status of subjects of legal relations, as well as an expansion of the competence of state authorities and administration. This is primarily reflected in a sharp increase in the volume of state-legal coercion, which does not have the character of administrative penalties. In summary, it can be concluded that the legal regime of a state of war consists of a system of legal norms, predominantly of an administrative nature, which primarily restrict the rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as the rights of legal entities. These measures expand the powers of state authorities and are introduced in specific territories in the event of specified emergency circumstances, with the aim of the swift restoration and maintenance of the rule of law.

Special Proceedings and Alternatives to Detention for Migrant and Refugee Children

The Author presented an analysis of the procedures and alternatives to the detention of migrating and refugee children in the Polish legal system, significantly influenced by European Union law. The Author pointed out legal solutions within the Polish legal system entangled with international law. It was emphasized that the continued use of child detention contradicts commitments made in international and regional legal instruments aimed at eliminating this practice. Detaining children can have serious negative consequences for their physical and mental health; therefore, alternatives to detention should be considered. Attention was drawn to the necessity of interpreting and applying Polish law in accordance with international human rights standards, including the principle of the best interests of the child to ensure the safety and protection of minor migrants and refugees.

Abuse of right during application of coercive medical measures in criminal proceedings.

Aim: To determine the problematic issues of ensuring the rights and freedoms of persons suffering from mental disorders and to whom CMM are applied in criminal proceedings under the legislation of Ukraine and the legislation of the states that adhere to the modern concepts of international standards of human rights ensuring to a person the CMM are applied to. Materials and Methods: Legal positions of the ECHR, criminal procedural legislation of a number of states, and a survey of scientists and practitioners conducted by the authors are used in this paper (total number of respondents was 168). A set of general scientific and special methods are used to achieve the aim of the study. Conclusions: The practice of applying СMM to persons suffering from mental disorders in criminal proceedings in Ukraine and other states does not fully meet international standards and needs improvement. It was suggested to make changes to the legal acts on the use of CMM in criminal proceedings.

Beyond the turn to human rights: a call for an intersectional climate justice approach

ABSTRACT Climate litigation against states is increasingly based on international human rights law. As a result, more climate cases are filed at international human rights courts and treaty bodies. Strict standing requirements pose significant hurdles, however, for individuals and communities to access such courts and treaty bodies, especially for those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This article argues that an intersectional perspective aids in overcoming procedural hurdles and can help international and regional human rights courts and treaty bodies to provide access to justice in climate cases, thus enforcing international human rights standards. Intersectionality unveils how climate change exacerbates pre-existing injustices and how society’s most vulnerable are structurally hit the hardest by climate change. It thus offers courts a more complete view of the impact of the climate crisis on human rights. Moreover, it illuminates how certain individuals are particularly affected by the climate crisis, aiding them in meeting standing requirements such as victim status and individual concern requirements. Examining recent cases brought on by generational groups, the article illustrates how intersectionality uncovers how the intersection of age and climate make certain generations particularly susceptible to climate change-induced human rights violations.

Addressing Indonesian Child Marriage: Comparative Study of Global Standards and Best Practices

Child marriage is a significant human rights issue as it deprives children around the world of their childhood, education, and safety. Its unfortunately a practice that still has prevalence in Indonesian society. This research is done for the purpose of analyzing the threat of child marriage and the urgency for a dedicated effort to tackle this issue normatively. Through the normative legal research method and supported by comparative analysis, this research analyzes how the Indonesian legal framework fare up to international human rights standards and best practices around the world, in tackling the practice of child marriage. Findings of this research suggest that child marriage can still be considered a neglected human rights abuse, due the minimum number of legal developments throughout the years. The findings expose the legal loophole and the lack of criminalization which can contribute to the prevalence of this dangerous phenomenon. This research serves the purpose of the betterment of human rights protection in Indonesia, specifically on vulnerable underage girls, by providing insights and recommendations that the government may consider for future legal development.

An Olympic embrace? A critical evaluation of the IOC’s commitment to human rights

ABSTRACT The intersection of sport and human rights has demonstrated that the actions of global sport mega-event franchise owners can now no longer be viewed as impervious to wider human rights considerations. In examining recent operational developments undertaken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as evidenced by their institutional embrace of international human rights standards, this article cautions against an uncritical acclaim of such developments. By drawing upon legal texts, the extant literature on the overlap of both sport and human rights law, and Foucault’s governmentality theory, it argues that whilst the IOC’s embrace of human rights remains a positive development, their ongoing application of the ‘clean venue’ principle on Olympic Host Cities remains problematic for two key reasons. It argues, first, that the ‘clean venue’ principle can be understood as a governmental technique that disciplines and controls Olympic spaces, and those who fall within the regulatory, legal, and operational reach of the principle itself, whilst preserving the existing political economy in which the Olympics are embedded within. Secondly, it argues that as an inescapable expression of the IOC’s commercial and contractual control, the ‘clean venue’ principle raises additional human rights concerns which impact upon various rights such as freedom of assembly and expression and the rights of local communities within and around Olympic and ‘non-Olympic’ spaces. Ultimately, this article contends that while the IOC’s recent operational developments are to be welcomed, much work remains to ensure that human rights law is more visibly foregrounded within the IOC’s legal framework.

Canadian Newspapers Support Mifepristone Medication Abortion to Improve Fulfillment of the AAAQ Right to Health Framework (2015-2019).

In 2015, mifepristone in combination with misoprostol, the international gold standard for medication abortion, was approved for use in Canada. By 2019, all Canadian provinces had included the medication as a publicly insured health benefit. Our content analysis of Canadian newspaper coverage describes arguments in favor of or against medication abortion and the evolving regulatory framework for mifepristone from 6 months before regulatory approval until the last significant regulatory barrier to use was removed (2015-2019). Our study found an exceptionally high level of support for the approval of, introduction of, and removal of regulatory barriers to mifepristone for medication abortion. Of 402 pieces, 67% were pro-medication abortion, 25% presented balanced or neutral coverage, and only 8% presented solely anti-medication abortion viewpoints. Of the 761 individuals quoted, more than 90% made positive or neutral statements about medication abortion. Most pieces discussed medication abortion as a health issue and described how liberalization of the regulatory framework would improve abortion availability (68%), accessibility (87%), acceptability (34%), and quality (28%). Rather than formal balance, which presents contrasting arguments as equally valid even when the scientific evidence for one vastly outweighs the other, our study identified evidentiary balance, in which coverage aligned with the weight of evidence and expert opinion. Our results differ from analyses in other high-income countries (United Kingdom, United States) where media outlets frame abortion in relation to morality or electoral politics rather than as a health issue. The Canadian print media presented overwhelmingly favorable arguments toward the expansion of mifepristone medication abortion and framed the introduction and universal coverage of medication abortion as advancing the "Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality" (AAAQ) Right to Health Framework that establishes international human rights standards for health information, facilities, goods, and services.