meanwhile, in missouri, 3 law prevents pregnant women from getting a divorce. we'll speak to a state lawmaker trying to change that. plus, with france set to become the first country to enshrine access to abortion in its constitution, we'll take a closer look at reproductive rights around the world. i'm helena humphrey, good to have you with us. here in the us, when it comes to presidential elections, it's women who consistently vote at a higher rate than men. and while they're far from being single issue voters — reproductive rights are expected to play a large role in the upcoming presidential election. debate has raged in the us since the supreme court rescinded the nationwide right to a termination injune 2022.

but polling shows why this is proving a difficult political issue for republican presidential candidates. among all americans, some 73% support allowing abortions in the first six week of pregnancy. including 56% of those in states with the most restrictive abortion bans. as of last month, 21 out of 50 states have either total or partial abortion bans on the books. and so, unsurprisingly, it's an issue that is playing out on the campaign trail. republican frontrunner donald trump has been reminding his supporters that he appointed three conservative judges to the supreme court when he was president. the same judges that played a decisive role in overturning roe v wade. but so far he has been less clear on restrictions he would like to see. the new york times reported last month that trump privately supports a 16—week ban. something his campaign slammed as fake news. but we do know that the former president has previously called for exceptions for cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies. trump's republican rival, nikki haley, has taken a more moderate position, saying she believes republicans need to be honest about the country's appetite for abortion restrictions, and thinks it should be up

to individual states. meanwhile, president joe biden has been the clearest on his position, working with vice president harris to make reproductive rights a cornerstone of their re—election campaign. and on friday, women's reproductive rights in the us once again made headlines, after two of the nation's largest pharmacy retailers — cvs and walgreens — announced that they would begin selling the abortion pill mifepristone in states where the drug is legally allowed. walgreens says it will begin selling the drug within a week in five states. cvs told the washington post that it working to secure the medication, but that it will begin filling prescriptions in massachusetts and rhode island "in the weeks ahead" and will expand to additional states. president biden applauded the decision. mifepristone is used in over half of all abortions in the united states and is at the centre of several legal challenges.

the supreme court is set to hear a case that could significantly restrict access to the drug, with a decision is expected in june. so how will all of this play out with women voters? let's bring injeanette hoffman, republican strategist and president of marathon public affairs. let's just touch on the news coming in today — mifepristone available in pharmacies in some states, and then at the same time you have near total abortion bans in other states. what does this tell us about how polarised politics appear to be in this country right now, and how that is impacting women? this is exactly what has happened when roe v wade was overturned and everything went back to the states. in red state you are seeing major

restrictions on abortion, on the abortion pill, and then in blue states you are seeing abortion is legal, the pill is legal and you are seeing people coming to those states when they needed to get the pill and to get abortion and as you said, it is playing out in elections, in mid—term elections, in mid—term elections and republicans lost seats over this issue and this is a very difficult issues for republicans to grapple with, particularly with the women's boat because, as you said, over 70% of all americans overwhelmingly women, want control of their bodies and want to have access to safe, legal abortions. figs want to have access to safe, legal abortions.— legal abortions. as you say, that is an — legal abortions. as you say, that is an important - legal abortions. as you say, that is an important point, i legal abortions. as you say, i that is an important point, the midterms and what we saw transpire there and then subsequently in other state races as well. i want to bring in some data that, it is a

gallop poll, people who identify as liberal in generations e. women are still 15 percentage points more likely to identify as liberal than men in that same group and if you take a look at how that has changed over time, that gap is five times larger than what we saw in the year 2000. why do you think that is? like we saw in the year 2000. why do you think that is?— you think that is? like we said, abortion, _ you think that is? like we said, abortion, that - you think that is? like we said, abortion, that is - you think that is? like we said, abortion, that is an | said, abortion, that is an issue, women want control over their own bodies. women don't want to be told what to do. it also this is the tiktok generation, right? they grew up on social media, they are fed algorithms of things they want to see and it kind of bends to one particularly ideological trend. they also grew up in the me too generation so that kind of trends with the liberal ideology. growing up in this time of roe v wade, that has a lot to do with it. the abortion issue definitely has a factor. i'm curious as to how you think this will continue to play out

on the campaign trail. if we have a look at statements from trump, nikki haley, they have been vague when it comes to what they would like to see happen in regards to abortion. ijust wonder what you happen in regards to abortion. i just wonder what you think, going forward, looking at the data, we have a birthrate dropping in this country, no federally mandated family leave, high childcare costs... if you have anti— abortion republicans looking at these policies, couldn't they use those kind of policies instead when we know that with the younger generation, for example, they are concerned about roe versus wade being overturned to garner more younger women voters? yes, and even trump's — younger women voters? yes, and even trump's closer _ younger women voters? yes, and even trump's closer supporters . even trump's closer supporters have said we need to understand this issue and talk to women better because we are going to lose on it. year after year, we don't. i think it was kayleigh mcenany who said we hear from women who say we don't want our daughter is going to colleges in which abortion is restricted. we want them to go to states where something

happens like this, they are able to take care of themselves. and of course no—one wants to have an abortion. it is not an ideal scenario. we want abortion to be safe, legal and rare, scenario. we want abortion to be safe, legaland rare, bill clinton's words, of course. we want to care for mothers, women, we want to have better women's healthcare. i also don't think that women only care about abortion, there are a lot of issues women care about. i think republicans and democrats would do well to talk about a lot of different issues including crime, including the border which of course 70% of americans care about and think we should do more on, but women's issues are very important in this upcoming election and republicans and democrats ignore them at their own peril. i democrats ignore them at their own eril. ., ., ., own peril. i do want to touch on nikki _ own peril. i do want to touch on nikki haley _ own peril. i do want to touch on nikki haley who - own peril. i do want to touch on nikki haley who said - own peril. i do want to touch on nikki haley who said that| on nikki haley who said that abortion right now, that those restrictions should be decided with states but it does appear right now that make trump will become the nominee, barring anything unforeseen. do you think nikki haley being a woman

has how voters in primary races feel about her?— feel about her? listen, ithink nikki haley — feel about her? listen, ithink nikki haley is _ feel about her? listen, ithink nikki haley is a _ feel about her? listen, ithink nikki haley is a breath - feel about her? listen, ithink nikki haley is a breath of - nikki haley is a breath of fresh air. i think she is good for this primary debate in challenging make trump on his positions but i think republican primary voters right now the president trump as the incumbent because he was the president, he lost the last election, a lot of probe that make republican primary voters still doesn't believe he lost the election, which is a problem, but we want a yeah they want a rematch with joe biden right now and that is why nikki haley isn't doing as well as she would have it. unfortunately president trump does take swipes at nikki haley being a woman and kind of mocks her. i think that is a bit unfortunate in place of her gender but i think nikki haley in any other year would be more popular in the polls and she is now because republican and primary voters just gravitate to donald trump as if he would be the incumbent.— to donald trump as if he would be the incumbent. jeanette, we have about _ be the incumbent. jeanette, we have about 30 _ be the incumbent. jeanette, we have about 30 seconds - be the incumbent. jeanette, we have about 30 seconds left - be the incumbent. jeanette, we have about 30 seconds left but| have about 30 seconds left but ijust have about 30 seconds left but

i just want to ask you, do you think america is ready for a woman in the white house? i think so! i would love to see a woman in the white house. i don't think it is going to happen this election cycle. there is talk about whetherjoe biden drops out and kamala harris becomes the nominee. i'm not sure if that is going to happen or not. it is 202a. i think it is about time. irate happen or not. it is 2024. i think it is about time. we will see if that — think it is about time. we will see if that happens. - think it is about time. we will see if that happens. all - think it is about time. we will see if that happens. all right, jeanette hoffman, robert rush republican strategist and thank you for talking to us. after more than a week of confusion and distress for families in alabama currently going through ivf treatment, the alabama house and senate each passed bills on thursday aimed at protecting in vitro fertilisation treatments. lawmakers said the bills were a temporary fix to get ivf clinics to reopen right away, and still have to be signed off on by the governor. it follows an unprecedented state supreme court ruling that said frozen embryos are children and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death.

the ruling alarmed patients, healthcare providers and reproductive rights advocates who warned the ruling will send liability costs skyrocketing for ivf clinics and make it more difficult for parents struggling with fertility to have children. so far at least 16 states have introduced foetal personhood bills which could impact access to ivf treatments. for more on this issue, i spoke to dr beth malizia, from alabama fertility — where she specializes in infertility and reproductive surgery. dr beth malizia, thank you for joining us and bbc news. it must have been a very difficult, stressful couple of weeks for your patience, for yourself. just talk us through what the past few days have been like in the wake of that ruling from the state supreme court that embryos should be considered children. the court that embryos should be considered children.- considered children. the last 1.5 considered children. the last 1-5 weeks — considered children. the last 1.5 weeks have _ considered children. the last 1.5 weeks have been, - considered children. the last 1.5 weeks have been, as- considered children. the last 1.5 weeks have been, as you | considered children. the last - 1.5 weeks have been, as you can imagine, heartbreaking for us as well as our patients. we

have made many difficult phone calls to patients about what this means for them, for their treatment plan. we have made some small modifications in some small modifications in some patients' plans and many patients can continue to roll as they were. and some unfortunately have had to hit a soft hold why we talk to all of are advisers and talk about what this means. so really unknown circumstances here and lots of, as you can imagine, individual concerned. and lots of, as you can imagine, individual concerned. and what we've seen _ individual concerned. and what we've seen now _ individual concerned. and what we've seen now from _ individual concerned. and what we've seen now from alabama | we've seen now from alabama state lawmakers is they have put a bill forward to try and protect access to ivf and treatment. it does still need to be signed off by the government. —— governor. taste government. -- governor. we have seen — government. -- governor. we have seen an _ government. —— governor. - have seen an absolute tremendous outpouring of support in the state as well as nationally. and internationally, for this topic. though i am overwhelmed by the support we've received, especially from patients, some

of whom were directly affected by this ruling. we met at the state capital on wednesday and were able to speak in front of a cloud of patients, all dressed in their orange t—shirts. we walked through the statehouse, spoke with representatives and senators, we attended at house and senate committee meetings where there were bills passed through those committees onto the floor and thankfully those were passed last week. they are slightly different bills but they each have the opportunity to go to the other branch this coming week and we're very hopeful at least one of them will pass be signed by the governor mid week, so we are cautiously optimistic that patients are continuing to pressure and push this in terms of importance to them. �* ., this in terms of importance to them. ., , them. and of course as you know, them. and of course as you know. this _ them. and of course as you know, this topic _ them. and of course as you know, this topic is - them. and of course as you know, this topic is all - them. and of course as you know, this topic is all part i them. and of course as you | know, this topic is all part of a broader debate going on in alabama right now, going on across the united states, in fact, in some political circles. those who brought this case forward to the state

supreme court say this is about recognising feet all rights by recognising feet all rights by recognising embryos as children. —— features rights. would you say to them? i children. -- features rights. would you say to them? i have tried very _ would you say to them? i have tried very carefully _ would you say to them? i have tried very carefully to - would you say to them? i have tried very carefully to keep - tried very carefully to keep this very directed about the care of ivf patients. the ability we have to grow parents in the state are of paramount importance to so many women and families. 42% of all people, all adults, say that they either have had fertility issues themselves or know someone who has undergone some fertility issues. and that number is likely even higher. there are many patients who don't talk about this stuff to their friends or even their family members. so the importance of this is so extreme that we are trying very hard to ensure that what we are speaking about is access to fertility care, access for patients to grow their families.— patients to grow their families. �* ,., ~' patients to grow their families. �* ~ ., families. and so thinking about the future of _ families. and so thinking about the future of nf _ families. and so thinking about the future of nf in _ families. and so thinking about the future of nf in your - families. and so thinking about the future of nf in your state | the future of ivf in your state and treatment commencing once

again, do you think that there still could nevertheless be ramifications, some people have said, for example, that it could potentially be more expensive? i could potentially be more expensive?— could potentially be more expensive? i think that the unknown — expensive? i think that the unknown and _ expensive? i think that the unknown and the _ expensive? i think that the i unknown and the uncertainty expensive? i think that the - unknown and the uncertainty of this ruling has really put us on a tailspin. for patients as well as for practitioners, for our lab staff, for our embryology folks, our lab director, our lawyers, there was a tremendous amount of uncertainty of what this means, so i think that likely remains. this bill, hopefully when passed, would give us some protection to be able to provide care for our patients. we had patients literally waiting on medicines and about to undergo treatment so we are very anxiously awaiting this as a way to at least get back to doing what we want to do. we, as much as i love this, the national and international support, we reallyjust want to take care of patients and get

women and families the families they would like to have. so yes, i think there is a level of concern that this has raised within the fertility committee and i think we have seen some international questions that surround that so i don't know that that's resolved next week and i hope at least what gets resolved in their ability to get back to work.- resolved in their ability to get back to work. and talking about that — get back to work. and talking about that concern, - get back to work. and talking | about that concern, obviously you are there helping people to have children, to have families. you are they working in a red state. ijust wondered, did you ever anticipate anything like this happening?— anticipate anything like this haueninu? , . ., happening? this decision from the alabama — happening? this decision from the alabama supreme - happening? this decision from the alabama supreme court i happening? this decision from | the alabama supreme court did come as quite a surprise to us. we were aware that there was a court case going on with the clinic elsewhere in the state but we were not aware that this had progressed to the alabama supreme court, so when the decision came out on last friday, a week ago friday, we were quite concerned about what that might mean for us and for

our patients especially. the]!!! our patients especially. all ri . ht, our patients especially. all right. dr — our patients especially. all right, dr beth malizia, take you so much for taking the time to speak to us here on bbc news. . ~ , ., to speak to us here on bbc news. . ~ i., . ., news. thank you so much for our news. thank you so much for your time _ news. thank you so much for your time and _ news. thank you so much for your time and your _ news. thank you so much for your time and your coverage l news. thank you so much for. your time and your coverage of this important issue. the fallout of strict reproductive laws continues to be a reality for many women throughout the us. in fact, it is currently illegal for pregnant women in the us state of missouri to get divorce. the law has been on the books since 1973. under current state law, the court must wait until after the woman gives birth in order to finalize child custody and child support agreements. republican state senator denny hoskins defended the law saying he'd be ok with allowing divorces in the case of abuse, he would not support allowing divorce during pregnancy. telling the kansas city star, "just because the husband and wife are not getting along, i would not consider that that would be a good reason to get divorced during a pregnancy." three other states, texas, arizona, and arkansas, have similar laws — though when it comes to domestic violence,

there are no exceptions. earlier, i spoke to missouri state representative ashley aune who's introduced a bill to overturn that law in her state. representative aune, thank you for being with us. just to begin with, sketch out the law for us as it currently stands in missouri?— in missouri? the current statute currently - in missouri? the current statute currently says i in missouri? the current i statute currently says that there are certain requirements you have to meet in order for there are certain requirements you have to meet in orderfor a judge to be able to finalise a divorce and one of those requirements is that a woman not be pregnant, essentially. and the reason for that is reallyjust and the reason for that is really just a you and the reason for that is reallyjust a you know, in the 70s they believed that women who were mostly stay home at the time needed to make sure they were cared for during their pregnancy and and they set up a custody plan and child support after the fact so noble reasons originally but not quite working out in 202a. i’m quite working out in 2024. i'm curious, quite working out in 2024. i'm curious. how _ quite working out in 2024. i'm curious, how did you find out about this? because i'd never

heard of the law working in this way. so just tell us about that, and also, when you did find out more about it, what have women been telling you about how this has impacted them? i about how this has impacted them? ., ., ., ., them? i found out about it from local organisation _ them? i found out about it from local organisation that - them? i found out about it from local organisation that helps - local organisation that helps the mystic violence survivors here in my community in kansas city, and they told me —— domestic violence survivors. they told me that this was brought to them by several of their survivors. and they were seeing so many victims who —— women who were victims of reproductive coercion and were ending up stuck in marriages and not being able to get out of them, and they were struggling to find the resources to help these women. i was shocked when i found out about it. and since this bill has gotten so much attention, not only in the hearing where we heard from a survivor, but my e—mail box, my twitter gdms have been filled with people reaching out and sharing their

stories of surviving awful domestic violence and knowing that a law like this could help so many women in missouri. you used that term _ so many women in missouri. you used that term their reproductive coercion. could use expand a little bit more on what that means? and of course this is in a context where in your state there in missouri, following roe v wade being overturned, yet i understand you had an ear almost total abortion ban being put in place, so how does that all interlinked? —— nearalmost interlinked? —— near almost total abortion interlinked? —— nearalmost total abortion ban. interlinked? -- near almost total abortion ban.- interlinked? -- near almost total abortion ban. after the decision came _ total abortion ban. after the decision came down, - total abortion ban. after the i decision came down, missouri signed one of the most draconian abortion bands in the country and, you know, we — the situation that we saw that it put women in in this state, fearing for their autonomy and the idea that women can't get out of a marriage just because they are pregnant and were in a

state where we are forcing women to carry every pregnancy to term, the implications of that are that women are stuck in a marriagejust that are that women are stuck in a marriage just if they're pregnant and that is wild. it is 2024 and i can't believe that we're still in a situation where we are putting women in danger, frankly, and reproductive coercion specifically is — it can look a lot of different ways. in the hearing for my bill, we heard from an expert who ran well, actually, currently runs a an offender rehabilitation programme. she hears from offenders the methods that they use. things like tracking their partner's ovulation and menstruation, spousal rape, restricting birth—control or messing with someone's contraception, forcing someone to have an abortion or

restricting access to an abortion. all these things can take place in an abusive relationship and the effects are absolutely devastating, not just for the woman who is in that situation but for her children and for her unborn children and for her unborn child as well.— child as well. you have put this bill forward. _ child as well. you have put this bill forward. i'm - child as well. you have put. this bill forward. i'm curious to know what the response has been from your lawmaker colleagues, republicans as well. ., , , �* well. honestly, i'm really roud well. honestly, i'm really proud that— well. honestly, i'm really proud that this _ well. honestly, i'm really proud that this is - well. honestly, i'm really proud that this is a - well. honestly, i'm really- proud that this is a bipartisan bill. i have two republican co—sponsors who actually sit in the committee with me, the committee that are on this bill so they were in the room for this first hand experience, not only from a survivor before the folks who are working in our communities to help people are in domestic abuse situations. so i'm really proud know that this is a big common sense idea and a peaceable st solution to and a peaceable st solution to a problem that plagues to many relationships. unfortunately, some members on the far right

have pushed back, saying they don't believe this bill is necessary, and they are just really pushing the fact that the nuclear family should stay together. these are folks that probably don't believe that divorce should even exist at all. divorce should even exist at all, , ., divorce should even exist at all, y., ., , divorce should even exist at all. y., ., , all. so you are seeing some pushback. _ all. so you are seeing some pushback. you _ all. so you are seeing some pushback, you just - all. so you are seeing some i pushback, you just mentioned there, from the far right. how does the bill moved forward from here then?— does the bill moved forward from here then? you know, i'm not sure if— from here then? you know, i'm not sure if it — from here then? you know, i'm not sure if it does. _ from here then? you know, i'm not sure if it does. the - from here then? you know, i'm not sure if it does. the fact - not sure if it does. the fact of the matter is that i am a democrat in a very red state. missouri has a supermajority of republicans, so as a member of the super minority and someone who represents a 50—50 district, so that means i have to work really hard for every boat i get every two years, they don't want to give me a win. it is an election year stop —— for every vote. they don't want to give me a win, they don't want to bring my bill up for a vote and i think that's too bad. it has gotten so much attention, i wish, i

really wish that they would hear the calls notjust from myself but from all of the missouri people who would be impacted by this bill. representative aune, thank you for taking the time to explain that bill to us, thank you. thank you. well, let's put all of this into context globally — because currently, 40% of women around the world live under restrictive abortion laws. but, the us is among only four countries that have decreased abortion access since 1994 — that's according to the council on foreign relations. meanwhile, 40 countries have taken steps to increase abortion access over the last three decades. including, northern ireland which legalized abortion in 2019, overturning one of europe's most restrictive abortion laws. a kenya court expanded its abortion exception to include cases of rape in 2019. kenya also allows women to obtain the procedure in emergency cases or instances where the health of the mother is at risk. while in russia, authorities

are limiting access to abortions in an attempt to confront the country's longstanding demographic crisis. and before we go, this week the french senate voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill that would see it become the first country in the world to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. none of the country's main political parties question the right to abortion, so it's likely to get the majority it needs during a joint session of parliament on monday. but french politicians have cited other countries including here in the us where the right to terminate a pregnancy had been taken away. president macron posted on x that he was committed to making abortion rights "irreversible". among the public, enshrining abortion rights in france's constitution has immense public support. if you take a look at the figures... 86% of people back it — according to poll from november 2022, the last time the national assembly voted on the legislation. abortion was decriminalized

in france in 1974, but the government had been facing growing pressure to further cement it into law. youre watching bbc news, i'm helena humphrey. thanks for your company and stay with us — i'll have more world news for you in 30 minutes time. bye for now. hello. friday was the first day of meteorological spring — but it was also a day that winter refused to relinquish its grip. here in northern ireland, enniskillen, seeing a fresh fall of fairly chunky snow. there were also some snowfall over the peak district — this is the cat and fiddle road — road that goes between macclesfield and buxton — it's quite high up, but we had some problems reported on that, as well.

low pressure then has been across the uk, with this cold air mass in place. we've got lots of showers at the moment, particularly across england and wales, northern scotland, and this band of rain and hill snow across parts of the far north of england and southern scotland. now there is a chance of seeing a centimetre or two of snow across the cheviots, the north pennines, the southern uplands over the next hour or two, so it could get quite icy here. and also in the showers affecting the higher parts of wales — again, above 200 metres elevation, you might come across an odd centimetre or two of snow across the high ground here. temperatures getting close, if not below freezing in a few areas, so there will be a risk of a few icy patches heading into the first part of saturday morning. then we've got this clump of more organised showers working across wales in the midlands — well, they could have a bit of sleet or snow mixed in, probably struggling to settle, and quite a few of those showers will still have just cold rain. it is a day where showers will be really widespread on saturday, some of them with hail and thunder. and, although there'll be a bit of sunshine

between the showers, those sunnier moments, probably quite short—lived. temperatures below average, about 6—9 celsius. now, the same area of low pressure stays with us through saturday night and into sunday. it will tend to drift northwards, tending to weaken somewhat. and so, of the two days of the weekend, sunday looks like it's likely to be the better, in terms of weather. should be a fair bit of dryer weather after a locally misty and foggy start to the day, a better chance of seeing some sunshine. there'll still be a few showers around, particularly for scotland and northern ireland, 1—2 for wales and western england, but bigger gaps between those showers and a bit more in the way of sunshine. it will continue to feel cool though, for the time of year. into next week, low pressures continue to move in off the atlantic from the west, but they're running into this area of high pressure that's centred over scandinavia. and so, we'll get something of an east—west split with the weather. for western areas, it stays quite cloudy with the threat of further outbreaks of rain. eastern areas tending to become drier, sunnier, and a bit milder, as well. that's the latest, bye for now.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. as an art critic and ajournalist, ifeel like a very lucky man indeed, because i get to spend tonnes of time inside museums, places i've loved ever since i was a boy. and during my working life, i've witnessed something

astonishing how radically they've changed. the days of museums as grand, intimidating treasuries for dusty objects, they're long gone. they're becoming much more dynamic and inclusive places, less solemn, less elitist, and less west—centric, too. museums, i believe, are really having a moment, and that's what i want to explore. what i am looking for is something weird, something different. i feel you've succeeded, inci... she's one of the greatest female artists of the 20th century. so what happened ? because she kind of, like, drops off the map. she was a woman, and she was a muslim... it's an exciting time to be interested in museums and visual art, because a great shake—up of art history is underway, which is why i've come to istanbul, that mesmerising megalopolis that straddles two continents, europe and asia. and the interplay between western and turkish art is a fundamental part of the extraordinary collection

of this place, istanbul modern.