On Roe v. Wade Anniversary NCJW Presses for Reproductive Rights Agenda

January 22, 2008, Washington, DC -- Upon the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) has called upon supporters of reproductive freedom to rededicate their efforts toward fulfilling the promise of Roe for all women. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder released the following statement:

"This anniversary of Roe v. Wade marks 35 years of the continuing struggle to keep abortion safe and legal in the United States. Roe affirmed every woman's constitutional right to control her own body. More than that, it affirmed her freedom of conscience to make such a decision in accordance with her own religious and moral beliefs, free from government coercion.

"Although the years since 1973 have seen legal and legislative setbacks and open hostility toward Roe from three presidents, the decision has survived and still enjoys majority support. But the promise of Roe has been blocked for many women -- women who are too poor to obtain an abortion, who live too far from a provider, or who are overwhelmed by too many obstacles to access.

"To make the promise of reproductive freedom real for all women, we must prevent the appointment of any more judges to the federal bench who are selected for their anti-abortion views and far right-wing credentials. We must pass the Freedom of Choice Act that would bar states or the federal government from interfering with a woman's right to choose. We must repeal the Hyde amendment which since 1977 has prevented federal funds from paying for abortions, as well as the "global gag rule" that bars family planning programs abroad that receive federal funds not only from performing abortions, but from even talking about abortion as an option. And, we must increase federal funding for family planning programs and medically accurate comprehensive sex education for young people to prevent unintended pregnancies and promote healthier communities.

"Roe's anniversary should be a time for all of us to rededicate ourselves to achieving universal access to reproductive health care and to protecting the legal right of women to make the reproductive choices that meet their needs."

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:
Emily Alfano
202 296 2588 x5; emily@ncjwdc.org