NCJW Denounces Senate Passage of Abortion Restriction Bill

July 26, 2006, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today denounced passage by the US Senate of the so-called "Child Custody Protection Act," an act which seeks to restrict access by minors to abortion. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder released the following statement:

"The so-called 'Child Custody Protection Act' is a shameful attempt to restrict a woman's right to choose -- one that, tragically, targets a particularly vulnerable population: young women. The act proposes to punish anyone except a parent who assists a minor in attempting to obtain a legal abortion outside her home state, unless that state's parental-involvement law has been met.

"The 'Child Custody Protection Act' does not protect. On the contrary -- it endangers and isolates pregnant teenagers, potentially pushing them towards unsafe, illegal alternatives. The act is simply one more step on the long retreat from Roe v. Wade, whose promise of reproductive autonomy has been woefully undermined by an ongoing campaign, on the state and federal level, to erect obstacles at every turn.

"We deplore the Senate's intervention in what should be a private decision between a woman -- even a young woman -- and her doctor. We pledge to redouble our efforts to reverse the effort to undermine reproductive freedom and restrict access to appropriate medical care."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.

Contact:
Vanessa Schnaidt
212 645 4048 x179; vschnaidt@ncjw.org