Posts by Vicki Saporta
Bubble Zone Law Upheld in British Columbia
Last week, the British Columbia Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by two anti-abortion protesters who argued that a “bubble zone” around reproductive health care clinics violated their right to freedom of expression. The complainants challenged British Columbia’s Access to Abortion Services Act, which prohibits protestors from coming within 50 meters of reproductive health care…
Read MoreMexico Supreme Court Upholds Legalized Abortion
Today I released the following statement in response to the decision by the Mexico Supreme Court to uphold a bill passed by Mexico City’s legislature to legalize abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy: Illegal abortion is a serious public health issue in Mexico, as it results in theinjury or death of thousands of Mexican…
Read MoreFederal Judge Upholds Massachusetts Buffer Zone Law
A federal judge has upheld the constitutionality of a Massachusetts law that expands protest-free zones around reproductive health care facilities from 18 feet to 35 feet. Earlier this year, anti-abortion protesters filed a federal suit challenging the law’s constitutionality, claiming that it forced them off of sidewalks and into the street, restricting their free speech.…
Read MoreProposed HHS Regulations Threaten Women’s Health
Here is my statement in response to proposed regulations related to reproductive health care released Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services: The new regulations proposed by the Bush Administration are cause for concern, as they could impact women’s access to complete, accurate information and comprehensive reproductive health care services. The regulations are…
Read MoreReport Confirms Abortion Does Not Cause Mental Illness
A report authored by the American Psychological Association has concluded that women who have abortions have no greater risk of mental-health problems than if they carry the pregnancy to term. While some women may experience feelings of grief and loss after choosing to have an abortion, there is no evidence that an abortion causes significant…
Read MoreLawsuit Demands Removal of Misleading Information from California Voter Guide
Friday, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and other groups filed a lawsuit to remove misleading language about a parental notification ballot initiative from material submitted for the official voter guide. The language in question includes a story used by supporters of the initiative to justify the legislation, although Planned Parenthood argues that parental notification would…
Read MoreGov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation Protecting Providers and Patients from Violence
This past Friday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1770 to extend the state’s Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act by five years. Originally passed in 2006, the Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act requires the state to collect and analyze information on anti-reproductive rights crimes. There have been several cited cases of violence against clinicians and…
Read MoreAbortion Hotline Launched to Serve Women in Anti-Choice Ecuador
Recently, a safe abortion hotline was launched to offer help to women living in Ecuador, a staunchly anti-choice country. Begun by the Dutch organization WOW (Women on Waves), the new hotline serves women by providing reproductive health information, including options for safe, at-home medical abortions. The hotline had a grand launch with activists hanging a…
Read MoreMajority of Canadians Support Dr. Morgentaler’s Award
Two out of three Canadians either support or somewhat support NAF member Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s appointment to the Order of Canada, according to an opinion poll released this week. The poll, conducted for Canwest News Services and Global National, showed 65% of Canadians supported the decision, with women, Quebecers, and people under age 35 as…
Read MoreKansas Grand Jury Declines to Indict Tiller
After a six-month investigation, a Kansas Grand Jury adjourned on Wednesday without issuing a criminal indictment against NAF member Dr. George Tiller. In a statement released by the Sedgwick County district attorney’s office, the grand jury said: “After six months of conducting an investigation that included hearing extensive witness testimony, reviewing volumes of documents and…
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