Review Finds Global Trend Toward Liberalization of Abortion Laws

Since 1998, 16 countries have adopted more liberal abortion laws, a study published by the Guttmacher Institute reported. The report, released this week, examined changes in abortion laws between 1998 and 2007, and found that 16 countries increased the grounds on which abortions can be legally provided. An additional 10 countries maintained their current laws, but added supplements that increased access to abortion care.

In Latin America, major change occurred in Columbia, whose constitutional court struck down its blanket prohibition of abortion in 2006, and in Mexico City, whose government recently revised its laws to allow unrestricted access to abortion care up to 12 weeks’ gestation. In 2002, abortion access laws in Nepal were amended to allow abortion care up to 12 weeks’ gestation, as well as in cases of rape, incest, fetal impairment or risk to the mother. In 2003, the African Union ratified a protocol guaranteeing a woman the right to an abortion in cases of rape, incest, sexual assault or threat to the mother’s mental or physical health. This trend reflects international recognition of the negative effects abortion restrictions have on women.

The National Abortion Federation Honors the Memory of Dr. Barnett Slepian

On this day 10 years ago, NAF member Dr. Barnett Slepian was senselessly murdered in Amherst, NY, and we honor his memory today.

Dr. Slepian was a caring physician who devoted his life to providing quality reproductive health care to women. Tragically, he and his family paid the ultimate sacrifice at the hands of an anti-abortion extremist.

Dr. Slepian was a devoted husband, father, colleague and friend. Today, it is with great respect and sadness that we join our members and his family in remembering Dr. Slepian’s life and his many contributions to women’s reproductive health care.

NAF Staff in the Field: Fighting South Dakota’s Proposed Abortion Ban – Update 3

Our weekend of activism culminated in a well-attended visibility event at a busy intersection in the middle of Rapid City. Even though the traffic was constant, drivers took the time to honk in support, sometimes slowing to wave. Some drivers pulled over to talk with us and get literature on the ban, and one driver even signed up to volunteer with the Campaign for Healthy Families. By the weekend’s end, our group of volunteers had documented more than 100 new supporters and had widely distributed boxes of bumper stickers and voter guides.

One of the most rewarding aspects of our time in South Dakota has been meeting the campaign staff and volunteers here in Rapid City and from the neighboring states of Wyoming and Montana. An abortion provider from Oregon even joined the group and shared some of her experiences in providing abortion care. In between phone calls and campaigning, we discussed how abortion access and availability varied in each of our home states. Hearing about the barriers women face when obtaining abortion care in different states reminded us of the importance of our work here in South Dakota and back in DC. As we prepare to go home, I know we will not forget all of these stories and the amazing people we encountered in Rapid City.

NAF Member Dr. Henry Morgentaler Receives Order of Canada

Today, NAF member Dr. Henry Morgentaler received the Order of Canada at a ceremony in Quebec City. We are extremely proud of Dr. Morgentaler and congratulate him on this great honor.

Dr. Morgentaler exemplifies the ideals and principles of the Order of Canada with his lifetime commitment to women’s reproductive freedom. In advance of today’s ceremony, the Governor General's office hailed him for not hesitating to "put himself at risk in his determined drive to increase health care options for Canadian women." Canadians owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for standing up for women’s lives and health at great personal sacrifice and risk.

Throughout his career, Dr. Morgentaler has received numerous awards, including an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario and a scholarship named in his honour by the Canadian Federation of Sexual Health. The National Abortion Federation (NAF), the professional association of abortion providers in Canada and United States, has awarded Dr. Morgentaler its highest honour, the Christopher Tietze Humanitarian Award, as well as a special award designating him a National Treasure.

NAF Staff in the Field: Fighting South Dakota’s Proposed Abortion Ban – Update 2

After our successful first day of phone banking and holding our "No on 11" signs at a busy downtown intersection, we were eager to hit the streets and meet the people of Rapid City. We set out in teams and canvassed tree-lined, hilly neighborhoods covered in Halloween décor and political signs. Our targets were undecided voters, and our mission was to make sure they knew that the ban was back on the ballot this year. Armed with maps, bottled water, and bags of Healthy Families literature, we made our way into the heart of Rapid City. We were impressed with the diversity of supporters: young mothers, senior citizens, and baby boomers. They all agreed that the exceptions were too broad and took away important decision-making from women, their doctors, and their families. Abortion in South Dakota is already rare and heavily regulated. We talked with people about how IM 11 would introduce big government into family decision making, and the harmful ways this ban would threaten a woman’s health.

NAF Staff in the Field: Fighting South Dakota’s Proposed Abortion Ban - Update 1

Staff members from the National Abortion Federation traveled to South Dakota this week to work with the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families (SDCHF) to campaign against Initiated Measure 11, which would ban abortion in the state with limited exceptions. This week our blog will feature their reports “from the field” about this closely watched ballot initiative.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time abortion opponents have tried to ban abortion in the state. In 2006, South Dakota passed a broad abortion ban, but SDCHF was able to collect enough signatures to defer implementation of the ban pending a statewide referendum. Voters in South Dakota defeated the ban by a margin of 55% to 44%.



Upon arriving in Rapid City, the first thing we noticed was the lack of skyscrapers. Being city girls, a lack of tall buildings and concrete was pretty shocking. However, the political signs that followed us to the campaign office made us feel far more at home than we anticipated.

We were greeted at the office by warm, friendly people whose kindness was trumped only by their dedication. They explained how difficult it already is for women in Rapid City to obtain abortion care because the city's reproductive health clinic doesn't provide abortions, and the closest clinic is located nearly 400 miles away in Sioux Falls.

Our first activity was to increase campaign visibility by joining a diverse group of campaign workers and volunteers holding signs against Initiated Measure 11 at one of Rapid City's busiest intersections. We received many reactions from passers-by, including a large number of honks and waves from fellow supporters. Being active on the issue in public made us realize just how divisive abortion is in the state of South Dakota, and gave us new drive for our evening's phone banking to educate voters and urge them to vote “no on 11.”