Demand Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims

Please contact your Congressional Representative and insist that they support H.R. 2527, the bipartisan Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act. This legislation would require hospitals treating victims of rape and sexual assault to offer emergency contraception˜large doses of birth control pills that inhibit ovulation, fertilization or implantation before pregnancy occurs˜as part of the treatment regimen.

Additionally, organizations and individuals can take action in their own communities to ensure that all hospitals provide emergency contraception to survivors of rape and sexual assault.

Background

The Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act, coined the "CARE" Act, was introduced in June by Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) and Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-Pa.). H.R. 2527 would ensure that hospital emergency rooms offer emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault, just as they patch up broken bones, stitch wounds and offer antibiotics for infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

We know that rape and sexual assault statistics are understated because many of these crimes go unreported. Records from confidential interviews of women 12 and over show that almost 249,000 women were raped or sexually assaulted in 2000. An estimated one in six women will be a victim of rape in her lifetime and more than 32,000 women become pregnant annually as a result of rape and sexual assault, yet few women know about emergency contraception.

Involuntary pregnancy is the primary reason that girls and women get abortions in the United States. Offering information and access to emergency contraception within 48-72 hours of a sexual assault could prevent unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The option to use emergency contraception after an emergency room visit could be a life-saver for tens of thousands of sexual assault survivors.

The American Medical Association's official policy stipulates that "information about emergency contraception is part of the comprehensive information to be provided as part of the emergency treatment of sexual assault victims." However, a recent study found that only 28 percent of the hospitals surveyed routinely offer and provide emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault. The problem of availability of emergency contraception is made even more difficult by a recent wave of hospital closings and mergers, where private and community hospitals are being taken over by religious-based owners who are opposed to including birth control and emergency contraception in their treatment regimen.

Every member of Congress, especially those who say they care about stopping violence against girls and women and helping victims of rape and sexual assault, should support this legislation. Providing emergency contraception is not the same as performing an abortion. Please forward this message and encourage all of your members and especially your anti-violence coalition partners to act now.

If you need additional information about H.R. 2527, NARAL has a fact sheet and model state legislation on this issue. Additionally, please feel free to contact the Washington D.C. offices of:

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.)
Staff contact: Jean Doyle, 202-225-5061
Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-Pa.)
Staff contact: Laura Stevens, 202-225-4276

Again, please contact your Representative and insist that they support H.R. 2527, the bipartisan Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act.