NOW Urges Immediate Action to Prevent Devastating "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" from Passing in Senate

February 26, 2004

"Under the disguise of maternal and fetal protection, reproductive freedoms are once again under attack," said NOW President Kim Gandy responding to today's vote in favor of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 1997). "This legislation is another despicable attempt to undermine abortion rights guaranteed under Roe v. Wade."

"If members of Congress want to address the pervasive problem of violence against pregnant women, then they need to pass increased funding for education and for enforcement," said Gandy.

The conservative sponsors of this cynical bill are using a strategy to redefine the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees equal protection of the law to persons, not fetuses. The inventive language of H.R. 1997 covers "a member of the species homo sapiens at any stage of development," so that even zygotes, blastocysts or embryos are included in the definition. This new definition would give rights to fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses—ultimately, setting the stage to legally reverse Roe.

Any injury inflicted on a woman, pregnant or not, should be prosecuted as a crime against the woman. "This is a deceptive ploy that allows abortion foes to whittle away at women's reproductive rights," Gandy remarked.

"The approach taken in this bill is deeply misguided and does nothing to enhance protection for a pregnant woman," said Gandy. "We are encouraging NOW members and supporters of women's rights to immediately contact their senators with an urgent message to vote 'NO' against this disturbing piece of legislation."

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