Wednesday, November 8, 2006
NAF Communications Department
202-667-5881
press@prochoice.org
Washington, DC - Today, California voters rejected Proposition 85, which would have amended the California Constitution to require parental notification at least 48 hours before a minor could obtain an abortion.
"Parental notification laws like Proposition 85 endanger the health and safety of teens," NAF President and CEO Vicki Saporta said. "We are pleased that California voters again recognized that such restrictions put our most vulnerable teens at risk."
While we understand that parents want to be involved in the decisions of their teenage daughters, good family communication cannot be legislated. In most instances, whether teens live in a state with a parental involvement law or not, parents know about a teen's decision to terminate a pregnancy. Unfortunately, involving a parent is not a realistic option for many young women who come from homes that are emotionally or physically abusive, or for those who are victims of rape or incest. Other teens may not want to involve their parents for fear of disappointing them. Rather than tell their parents, some young women resort to dangerous alternatives.
Last November, California voters rejected a similar parental notification provision by a margin of 52.6 percent to 47.4 percent. Unfortunately, proponents of the initiative managed to place it on the ballot with similar wording again this year.
Proposition 85 was opposed by NAF and other medical authorities such as the California Medical Association, the California chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the California Nurses Association.
###
The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in the United States and Canada. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care to promote health and justice for women. Our members include health care professionals at clinics, doctors' offices, and hospitals, who together care for more than half the women in both countries who choose abortion each year. For more information, visit our website at www.prochoice.org
|
