The right to an abortion has been Maryland law for 30 years, but many Marylanders don’t have access to an abortion provider or are forced to pay out of pocket. These barriers harm sexual assault survivors and women experiencing reproductive coercion. Let’s help sexual assault survivors by improving access to abortion for Marylanders.
Access to abortion care is vital to survivors of rape.
The CDC reports that almost 3 million women in the U.S. experienced Rape-Related Pregnancy (RRP) during their lifetime. 5% of rape victims of reproductive age (age 12-45) became pregnant as a result of rape, with the majority of pregnancies in adolescents. Of these, half terminated the pregnancy. Adolescents are more likely to become pregnant as result of rape because they are less likely to be on birth control or to seek emergency contraception following a rape.
Survivors of Reproductive Coercion need access to abortion care.
Reproductive coercion is a form of intimate partner violence where a woman’s partner tries to control reproductive decisions by preventing access to or tampering with birth control or forcing sexual intercourse with the intent of causing pregnancy. Of women who were raped by an intimate partner, 30% experienced a form of reproductive coercion by the same partner. These survivors need access to abortion care if they become pregnant and choose not to continue the pregnancy.
HB 937 & SB 890 – Abortion Care Access Act
Lifts restrictions on qualified abortion providers, and creates funding for people who want to train in abortion care
HB 952 – Access to Abortion Care and Health Insurance Act
Ensures that insurance covers abortion for Marylanders
HB 1171 – Declaration of Rights - Right to Reproductive Liberty
Enshrines the right to abortion care in the Maryland Constitution
SB 669 – Pregnant Person’s Freedom Act
Ensures a person is not subject to criminal penalties or civil damages for aiding, informing, or in any way assisting a pregnant person in terminating or seeking to terminate the person’s pregnancy
