Jacinda Ardern Says Abortion Is A 'Fundamental Human Right'

Writing on Instagram, the Kiwi leader said: "Here in New Zealand we recently legislated to decriminalise abortion and treat it as a health rather than criminal issue.

"That change was grounded in the fundamental belief that it's a woman's right to choose.

"People are absolutely entitled to have deeply held convictions on this issue. But those personal beliefs should never rob another from making their own decisions.”

She added that striking down the landmark decision that legalised abortion nationwide in the US is moving the fight for women’s quality ‘backwards’.

Ardern said: "To see that principle now lost in the United States feels like a loss for women everywhere.

"When there are so many issues to tackle, so many challenges that face woman and girls, we need progress, not to fight the same fights and move backwards."

She said: "One of the principles of foreign policy… is that you don't comment on the domestic politics of other nations.

"Abortion policy is not the domestic politics of another nation, it is a basic human right for women."

Ardern added: "That is why it is a subject matter on which I feel I can express myself freely."

In 2020, New Zealand formally legalised abortion and allowed women to terminated a pregnancy up to 20 weeks.

However, some New Zealanders are worried abortion rights may be taken away if The National Party is elected.

According to the outlet, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson accused The National Party leader of doubling down on his political views in a radio interview.

“I think New Zealanders need to ask themselves what Christopher Luxon’s stance on abortion actually is,” he said.

 “While Mr Luxon might be saying convenient political things now, I think people know where he really stands.”