Opinion by Serra Sippel and Akila Radhakrishnan, Published on CNN

Serra Sippel is president of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, which works to advance sexual and reproductive health rights for women and girls worldwide. Akila Radhakrishnan is president of the Global Justice Center, a nonprofit that promotes gender equality with a focus on sexual and reproductive rights and justice for sexual and gender-based violence. The views expressed here belong to the authors. (and they are despicable – especially since they are attempting to politicize a virus).

(CNN) Access to abortion is an essential service and a fundamental human right. Period. The denial of it, including in times of global crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic, constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.