Instant Launch on June 3, 2024
Contact: Gaby Connor, [email protected]
The report, produced by the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline and If/When/How, consists of findings and private testimony from 3,431 survey respondents who’ve skilled reproductive coercion and relationship abuse.
AUSTIN, TX –Immediately, the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline and If/When/How launched a new report detailing the prevalence of reproductive coercion, particularly amongst survivors of home violence.
The report offers deeper insights on these experiences as states throughout the nation proceed to limit abortion entry and two instances on the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s docket threaten to additional restrict reproductive autonomy.
Reproductive coercion is an umbrella time period that features makes an attempt to impregnate a companion towards their will, management outcomes of a companion’s being pregnant, intervene with contraceptive strategies, and/or coerce or drive a companion to have unprotected intercourse. The Hotline and If/When/How’s report discovered that for the reason that fall of Roe, experiences of reproductive coercion to The Hotline have almost doubled throughout the nation.
Of the three,431 survey respondents, 63% stated their present or former companion pressured or pressured them to have intercourse or different sexual exercise after they didn’t wish to and 39% stated their present or former companion threatened them in the event that they stated no to intercourse or different sexual exercise. For survivors who’ve skilled reproductive coercion, 42% stated they’ve by no means reached out for assist.
“Individuals experiencing home violence navigate a harmful sea of dangers, even when not pregnant or parenting with their abusive companion, making reproductive autonomy important to survivor security,” Marium Durrani, Vice President of Coverage on the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline stated. “Abortion generally is a lifeline for survivors who need or want one, providing them a vital option to reclaim management over their our bodies, future, and security.
By means of survey information and private testimony, the report additionally discovered that for a lot of survivors, being pregnant can provoke, improve or escalate violence – underscoring the significance of reproductive autonomy to survivor security. State legal guidelines limiting abortion entry, and even limiting a pregnant individual’s potential to divorce their partner, are giving abusive companions a robust and authorized device to harass, management, and coerce survivors into carrying their pregnancies to time period.
“Nobody ought to must concern violence from their companion, or the state, when in search of abortion. However for the reason that overturning of Roe v. Wade, our Helpline has seen a rise in callers weighing the dangers of their abusive relationship towards their entry to abortion. Survivors are being pressured to stroll the road of isolation and security to get the abortion they want, whereas minimizing their dangers of criminalization and punishment by their abuser–and the state,” stated Sara Ainsworth, Senior Authorized and Coverage Director at If/When/How. “Quite than colluding with abusers of their quest to manage and dominate their intimate companions, states ought to guarantee folks can stay wholesome, protected, and free lives. This begins with ending abortion bans and restrictions that empower abusive companions and isolate victims from their communities.”
Because the report demonstrates, reproductive coercion is prevalent, harmful and enabled by state restrictions limiting reproductive autonomy and entry to reproductive healthcare. Nevertheless, intimate companion violence and reproductive coercion should not inevitable outcomes.
“My [former abusive partner] requested me what I might do if I have been pregnant, and earlier than I answered, he stated he would kill me if I had an abortion,” one survey respondent stated. “I didn’t take him severely on the time, however as I obtained to know him higher, I noticed he in all probability meant it. Fortunately, I had good mates and a counselor who helped me see the connection was unhealthy, and I obtained out earlier than it was too late.”
Extra details about the survey, detailed findings and private testimony will be discovered within the report, which is on the market for obtain right here.
###
The Nationwide Home Violence Hotline (The Hotline) established in 1996, serves these impacted by relationship abuse within the U.S. 24/7 with free and confidential stay companies offered through cellphone, chat, and textual content. The Hotline envisions a world the place all relationships are optimistic, wholesome, and free from violence.
For those who or somebody you recognize is experiencing relationship abuse in any kind, assist is on the market — textual content START to 88788, name 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or chat on-line at TheHotline.org. You aren’t alone.
If/When/How is a authorized companies and advocacy group that represents folks in disaster, reshapes the legislation, and builds a community of legal professionals working for reproductive justice. If/When/How’s Repro Authorized Helpline offers free, confidential authorized companies in your reproductive life, together with abortion, being pregnant loss, and beginning. Study extra at ReproLegalHelpline.org.
