Reproductive Rights and Justice
NOW affirms that reproductive rights are issues of life and death for women, not mere matters of choice. NOW fully supports access to safe and legal abortion, to effective birth control and emergency contraception, to reproductive health services and education for all women. We oppose attempts to restrict these rights through legislation, regulation or Constitutional amendment.
Blog
TRAPPED: A New Must See Documentary about Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers
By Sarah Nealon, President’s Office Intern On June 15th, the Center for Reproductive Rights hosted a viewing of the Documentary Trapped, directed by Dawn Porter, in the Senate Congressional Briefing Rooms. I, along with other NOW interns, was able to a Read more...Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt: A Rally to Remember
By Brittany Romagnoli, President’s Office Intern On March 2, the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt case. This case acknowledges how targeted regulation of abortion providers (TRAP) laws in Texas are designe Read more...Zubik v. Burwell: Personal and Religious Beliefs Have No Place in Healthcare
By Hailey Lobb, PAC intern As a student studying political science, I have experienced some pretty emotional debates in classes and among friends. I have seen debates and classroom discussions turn friends into enemies. I have seen debates shut down by Read more...News
Why It Matters That Jane Roe Says She Was Paid By The Religious Right
… Van Pelt, the president of NOW, believes McCorvey’s revelation will only further energize advocates fighting the current onslaught of attacks on abortion care. “The truth of Norma McCorvey will ignite new activists into action,” she told HuffPost. Read more...High Court Tackles Trump-Set Barriers to Free Contraception
• The National Organization for Women said in a statement Wednesday that religious views do not excuse bigotry against half the population. Covered contraception is more than a theory: Tens of millions of women cannot afford birth control unsubsidized, according to the group’s research. “What’s more, unintended pregnancy is deadly,” the women’s group said. “It is closely correlated with infant mortality, maternal mortality and increased risk of domestic violence homicide.” Read more...Tell Texas Governor: Coronavirus Is No Excuse to Advance Your Anti-Abortion Agenda
Texas is pushing extremism over health and women’s rights by trying to ban nearly all abortions, but reproductive rights activists are pushing back. Read more...Louisiana abortion case heard by Supreme Court
“This law isn’t about legal access to abortion,” Hawkins said. “This law is about whether or not abortion clinics should be held to the same safety standards as other surgical facilities throughout the state of Louisiana.” Read more...Resources
NOW Demands Deletion of ‘Life from Conception’ in HHS Plan
NOW President Toni Van Pelt recently sent a blunt letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Eric Hargan concerning the use of the term “life from conception” in an extensive draft plan that is to guide HHS policies for the next four years. Van Pelt expressed alarm that officials in the department are advancing a conservative religious viewpoint about when ‘life begins’ that will undermine sound health care policies and practices for millions of women and their families.
A Million Thanks to Organizers and Marchers – Women Made History!
Printable PDF A Million Thanks to Organizers and Marchers – Women Made History! January 24, 2017 NOW activists are still thrilled and energized by the overwhelming turnout – not only for the Women’s March on Washington – but the impressive marches that Read more …
ISSUE ADVISORY: Trump and the 115th Congress – A Daunting Picture for Women’s Rights, Part One
Republicans Plan Repeal of Progressive Gains With Donald Trump’s assumption to the White House and majority GOP control of the Senate and House, Republicans plan to move full speed ahead with their radical agenda of repealing scores of Obama initiatives, enacting their long-desired agenda of drastically cutting funding for social safety net programs, repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (which would also eliminate the contraceptive insurance coverage mandate), converting Social Security and Medicare to private investment accounts and voucher approaches and enacting substantial tax cuts for upper income earners, weakening public schools through a massive voucher program and most alarming, narrowing women’s access to reproductive health care – among many other regressive and harmful actions. It is, indeed, an alarming prospect.
ISSUE ADVISORY: Whole Woman’s Health Ruling Will Help Stop TRAP Laws
Supreme Court in ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (WWH) signaled one of the most significant victories for reproductive rights in several decades. By deciding that any law or regulation that does not advance women’s health – as is the case with the two TRAP laws in Texas – a majority on the Court greatly strengthened the standard by which women’s health advocates can seek to have courts permanently enjoin similar restrictions in other states.