Planned Parenthood Stands with Women on the 40th Anniversary of Roe; Advocates for Continued Access to Safe and Legal Abortion
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
“To protect their health and the health of their families, women must have access to safe, legal abortion services without interference from politicians.” – Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
New Haven, CT – On the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) stands with women across the country in reinforcing the importance of safe and legal abortion. Despite a woman’s constitutional right to make her own personal medical decisions without interference from politicians, access to safe and legal abortion is still at risk.
“As a leading women’s health care provider and advocate in Connecticut and Rhode Island, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England understands that abortion is a deeply personal and often complex decision for a woman to consider if and when she needs it,” said Judy Tabar President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “A woman should have accurate information about all her options around her pregnancy. To protect their health and the health of their families, women must have access to safe, legal abortion services without interference from politicians, as protected by the highest court.”
In 1965, illegal abortions made up nearly one-fifth of all pregnancy-and childbirth-related deaths. In the 40 years since Roe v. Wade blocked states from banning abortion, it has been one of the safest medical procedures — today, less than 0.3 percent of women undergoing legal abortions sustain a serious complication. Despite abortion being legal, constitutionally protected, and consistently supported by a majority of Americans, opponents of women’s health have made it increasingly harder for women to access it. In states such as Texas, South Dakota, Florida, and Michigan, some politicians have eroded access to safe and legal abortion through court battles, ballot measures, and burdensome legislative restrictions.
“A majority of Americans oppose efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, and in November they voted to protect a woman’s ability to make her own personal medical decision without interference from politicians,” said Tabar. “Legislators who continue to interfere with a woman’s access to safe and legal abortion do so against the will of their constituents.”
- According to a 2012 Quinnipiac poll, 64 percent of American voters agree with the Roe v. Wade ruling, up from 60 percent in 2010.
- According to a post-election poll from the Pew Research Center, 64 percent of voters younger than 30 said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
- According to a Gallup poll of voters in 12 swing states, 39 percent of women cited abortion as the most important election issue for women. Women who cited abortion preferred Obama by a 3-1 margin.
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According to research from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of Latino registered voters support a woman's ability to make personal, private decisions about abortion.
- According to a 2012 survey from the Public Religion Research Institute, two-thirds (67 percent) of African Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
As a leading women's health care provider in Connecticut and Rhode Island, PPSNE works every day to reduce unintended pregnancy and keep women healthy. Planned Parenthood health centers provide health care that helps women prevent an estimated 486,000 unintended pregnancies and 204,000 abortions every year. From courthouses to statehouses to Capitol Hill, Planned Parenthood works to protect access to health care for women across the country — taking action to ensure that women have access to care, no matter what.
On Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 1:30 p.m., Planned Parenthood will join the CT Coalition for Choice at a Press Conference in recognition of the dedication of Connecticut and its state leaders in supporting and respecting the reproductive health decisions of women and their families over the last four decades as well as to their continued commitment to the future of reproductive justice.
The Roe v. Wade 40th Anniversary Press Conference will be held at the Legislative Office Building, Room 1A, Hartford, CT. For more information, please contact Gretchen Raffa Co-Chair CT Coalition for Choice at (203) 752-2867 or [email protected].
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Planned Parenthood of Southern New England is one of the region’s largest providers of family planning and reproductive health care services, with 19 health centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island, delivering care to nearly 70,000 patients annually, and 90 percent of the services provided are preventive. For 95 years, Planned Parenthood Federation of America has provided health care and family planning services to women and men across the country. One in five American women has received care from a Planned Parenthood health center during her lifetime, and last year three million patients came to one of our more than 800 health centers.
Source
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Inc.
Contact
Media Contact: Kafi Rouse
Director, Public Relations & Marketing
Office: 203.752.2810
Cell: 203.843.2599
[email protected]
Published
January 16, 2013