Statements

Despite national and international developments that make many of us feel less than hopeful, NAPW has had a number of victories that remind us of the need to celebrate the accomplishments we have had.

Indiana Court of Appeals Rules that Legislature Did Not Intend to Punish Women Who Have Abortions

Patel’s Conviction for Neglect of a Dependent Modified, Reducing Her Sentence

On July 22, 2016, the Indiana Court of Appeals announced its decision to overturn the conviction of Purvi Patel for the crime of feticide.

In an important victory, the U.S. Supreme Court today struck down provisions of a Texas anti-abortion law that threatened the health and humanity of pregnant women. National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) with the NYU School of Law Reproductive Justice Clinic filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief on behalf of 14 organizations, arguing that if upheld, the Texas law would prevent some women from having an abortion; force others to have abortions outside of safe medical settings; and make those who do so potential targets for arrest and prosecution.

NAPW response to Reuters investigation of reporting of drug use, child welfare and infant deaths
December 14, 2015

Read full response here.

Amend it, Alabama!

Last week, we learned that Alabama's Health Care Improvements Task Force is considering making changes to the state's chemical endangerment law, which has been used to prosecute almost 500 pregnant or parenting women in the last several years.

National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) applauds Dougherty County Prosecutor Gregory W. Edwards' conclusion that there is no legal authority for charging a pregnant woman with the crime of murder for having terminated her own pregnancy.

Statement of National Advocates for Pregnant Women Opposing Arrest of Georgia Woman as Murderer for Home Abortion Attempt

According to Georgia prosecutors, 23-year-old Kenlissia Jones has been arrested and is being held without bond, facing a possible charge of "malice murder," based on the claim that she used misoprostol, a medication with the brand name Cytotec, to terminate her own pregnancy.

National Advocates for Pregnant Women was the first national organization to offer support to Jennie McCormack, an Idaho woman who was arrested for having an abortion. We are thrilled to report an important victory in Ms. McCormack's case. Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its second opinion in McCormack v. Herzog, holding that it is unconstitutional to prosecute women for having abortions, and striking down several parts of Idaho's laws that limit women's rights and access to abortion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Sara L. Ainsworth, Director of Legal Advocacy
Lynn Paltrow, Executive Director, National Advocates for Pregnant Women
(212) 255-9252, ext. 25; sla@advocatesforpregnantwomen.org

Federal Appeals Court Affirms that Idaho’s Prosecution of Mother of 3 for Having A Medication Abortion at Home is Unconstitutional

Also Strikes Down Unnecessary and Onerous Burdens on Abortion Providers and Affirms that Idaho’s Ban on Later Abortion Violates the Constitution

May 29, 2015

Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed an Idaho federal court’s decision to permanently prohibit enforcement of parts of Idaho’s abortion statutes.