The recent leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion via POLITICO regarding the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade has spurred nationwide protest, concern and actions. While the Court’s official opinion has not been released, there are fears that Roe v. Wade will be overturned, leaving states to determine if abortion access will be permitted.
Immediately following the leaked Court opinion, NASW issued a statement underscoring the Association’s support for abortion access, individual’s right to bodily autonomy, as well as the right to exercise freedom of choice in accessing health care services.
NASW signed on as an official partner of the Bans Off Our Bodies campaign, led by Planned Parenthood. The goal of the campaign is to mobilize advocates across the country on May 14th for in-person events and social media campaigns to send a strong and unified message that abortion access must be protected and supported.
NASW supports the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 (S. 4132). We issued an action alert and also signed onto a letter with more than 230 national organizations urging U.S. Senators to pass the bill, which would guarantee abortion access nationwide. However, on May 11th, the proposed bill failed to pass, after Senate Republicans unanimously opposed the measure, along with one Democratic Senator, Joe Manchin (D-WV).
On May 11th, the ACLU of Ohio and Democracy Forward filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and Women Have Options Ohio (WHO/O), challenging an anti-abortion ordinance adopted by Lebanon City Council on May 25, 2021. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
NASW remains resolute in its commitment to protect reproductive rights and freedoms as outlined in our
2021 Blueprint of Federal Social Policy Priorities and
Social Work Speaks. NASW affirms all individuals have a right to bodily autonomy, that abortion is health care, and that all individuals have the right to freedom of choice in accessing essential health care services most especially their reproductive health.