THE NWHN’S STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE DOBBS V. JACKSON SUPREME COURT DECISION AND THE END TO CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED ABORTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Communications Director Adele Scheiber at [email protected] for general comments and questions. If you are looking for commentary from a medical expert, please reach out to Lacey Alexander, board member, PhD, and registered nurse, via email at  [email protected]  for a quote.

Today is a day of National tragedy. In a move that rolled back fifty years of settled law in one fell swoop, the Supreme Court ruled in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that abortion is not a constitutionally protected right. This ruling effectively overturns Roe v. Wade and puts the crucial question of whether people across the country have access to safe abortion care in the hands of the states.

26 of these states have already responded with a resounding “no.” Via pernicious “trigger laws” that took effect the moment the ruling was issued or will take effect in the coming weeks, millions of people  are being stripped of their right to bodily autonomy as we write this statement.

The future is undeniably bleak, but we are not powerless. For one, we have the will of the people. Over 57% of the public supports upholding abortion rights. We also have the power of each other. Where once there were no groups to help relieve some of the logistical and financial barriers to accessing an abortion, there are now over fifty organizations that do this vital work and share funds, best practices, and bright ideas. And in December 2021, thanks largely to the NWHN’s years of relentless advocacy, medically unnecessary restrictions on the abortion pill were permanently lifted by the Food & Drug Administration.

Knowledge is also power, and in this ever-shifting landscape, it is our most powerful tool of all. That’s why the National Women’s Health Network sprang into action on May 3rd, the very day after a draft of today’s devastating decision was leaked in an unprecedented move. On that day, we launched a digital education campaign via Google and popular social media platforms to make sure as many people as possible across the nation understood their rights and how to access all forms of abortion no matter their situation. To date, this campaign has reached over a quarter of a million people in restrictive states like Texas, Florida, South Dakota, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Virginia.

In the coming months, the NWHN will fight to restore Federal abortion rights, expand abortion access, and educate the public. We will do this by:

• Continuing to provide trustworthy and up-to-date information on abortion to the people who need it the most, both in print and online.
• Expanding our partnership with Plan C, a group of veteran public health advocates, researchers, social justice activists, and digital strategists working to make the abortion pill accessible to all women.
• Holding elected officials accountable for their stance on abortion access. Control of both chambers of Congress and dozens of governorships and state offices are on the line in the 2022 midterm elections. The NWHN will create opportunities to get involved and will make sure our supporters have the information they need to make their voices heard at the ballot box.

This is unprecedented. This is personal. Join us in the fight today.

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The National Women’s Health Network is supported by our members. By choice, we do not accept financial support from drug companies, insurance companies, or medical device manufacturers. We bring the voices, concerns, and needs of all women health care consumers to policy and regulatory tables.