Click here for a printable PDF of this statement.
NCCADV condemns the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the right to abortion in today’s Dobbs opinion. In this decision, the Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the right to an abortion in the U.S. and opening the door for states to further restrict access to reproductive healthcare across the country. This decision is wrong and will harm millions of people.
The right to choice and access to abortion is essential to the safety and wellbeing of people with uteruses. Abortion access and reproductive justice are vital for all people to determine their own lives. Survivors of intimate partner violence and advocates know all too well that contraception, pregnancy, reproductive healthcare and abortion are often sites of control and abuse. Reproductive coercion is a common form of abuse that includes trying to get a person pregnant against their will, tampering with birth control, and controlling the outcome of a pregnancy, including forcing or coercing someone to carry a pregnancy to term. The right for all people to seek and choose comprehensive reproductive healthcare is necessary to minimize the lifelong impacts of reproductive coercion tactics. Limited abortion access prevents many survivors from escaping their abusers and, in some cases, will result in escalated violence and death.
Abortion bans like Mississippi’s in Dobbs are part of the intertwined systems of oppression that deny Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color access to their rights and are rooted in anti-Black racism, white supremacy, and other forms of discrimination. Although abortion remains legal, for now, state bans and restrictions will be devastating for low-income survivors, survivors of color, survivors with disabilities, and others who already face substantial barriers to accessing the healthcare they need. All people, including domestic violence survivors, deserve full control over their lives and decisions, including the ability to safely and freely decide whether or not to become, or stay, pregnant.
NCCADV urges Congress to pass a federal law protecting abortion access from bans and restrictions nationwide. Congressional action is critical to ensure people nationwide have the right to bodily autonomy and ability to control their own reproductive destiny.
Abortion is still legal in North Carolina. Abortion funds, clinics, and support networks are still available to help anyone needing care in our state. If you need reproductive healthcare, we encourage you to reach out to a provider immediately. We encourage survivors and all individuals in need of an abortion to seek the care that they need.
Abortion Access Resources
- Click here if you need support obtaining an abortion in North Carolina
- Click here to donate to the Carolina Abortion Fund
- Click here to learn more about training your staff on supporting clients in need of abortion care
- Click here to learn more about SisterSong’s work to strengthen and amplify the collective voices of indigenous women and women of color to achieve reproductive justice.
- Click here to learn more about each State’s abortion laws
- Click here to find an abortion provider in your area
- Click here to find abortion medication by mail
- Click here to donate to Free From’s National Abortion Access Fund for Survivors
