UN official says restrictive US abortion policies are 'extremist hate'

The United Nations deputy high commissioner for human rights likened restrictive U.S. policies on abortion to “torture” and a form of “extremist hate.”

Kate Gilmore, in an interview with The Guardian published Tuesday, did not specify which state laws she was referring to, but characterized the U.S. as being in a “crisis.”

“This is a crisis. It’s a crisis directed at women,” she said, adding that tougher measures restricting women’s access to the procedure may soon be coming.

Gilmore said removing women’s access to safe and legal abortions is punitive and a denial of rights.