PRESS RELEASES
National Organization for Women - New York State
Launches All Out Campaign for Women's Health and
Right to Privacy
August 28, 2007 |
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The radical right is holding women hostage. There is something we can do about it! NOW - NYS is proud to launch its campaign to free women from the grips of the radical right in New York State. For too long, fundamentalists who hold office as NYS Legislators have been blocking the passage of good laws that will protect women’s health. It’s time to stop them! This campaign will be multi-faceted. Ultimately, the outcome of this all out effort will be used to bring about change in the voting booth.
Earlier this year, Governor Spitzer took the bold step to introduce the NYS Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act. This bill will revise NY State’s outdated abortion law, originally enacted in 1970.
Because Senator Robach is one of many who are blocking passage of this important bill, today NOW-NYS is targeting him with the message that it’s time for all legislators to be on board to protect women’s health. Let us be clear, any Legislator who is anti-choice and/or votes against this bill will be considered an obstructionist to women receiving full health care in New York State.
Women’s rights supporters are concerned by a recent US Supreme Court decision. That ruling gave state politicians the power to make medical decisions for women; taking away a woman’s right to determine her own personal health care needs. I echo the words of my local Rochester NOW President, Alberta Roesser She said “Women are angry about this decision because it actually specifies that a woman’s health is no longer a consideration when imposing restrictions on abortion. Because federal lawmakers can no longer be counted on to protect women, many progressive states are pushing to enact legislation, protecting a women’s right to a safe, legal abortion.
The Act would amend or repeal various statutes in the old law to ensure that NYS protects a woman’s right to choose the course of her pregnancy, and to use or refuse contraception. Further, the law would establish a fundamental, statutory right to privacy for women in making personal reproductive decisions.
The National Organization for Women is the largest women’s rights organization in the US comprised of over 500,000 contributing members. NOW-NYS is comprised of over 40,000 contributing members and 22 chapters. The mission of NOW is to achieve true equality for women.
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