Reproductive Justice Advocates in Action at LSRJ/NWLC Training

Over sixty law students, attorneys, and advocates gathered in Washington, D.C. on June 3, 2011 for an annual day of training on reproductive justice law and policy. Discussions throughout the day-long event, co-sponsored by Law Students for Reproductive Justice and NWLC, explored the legal battles for women’s equal access to reproductive health care, including those won and those continuing to wage on.  

NWLC attorneys and reproductive justice advocates from various organizations presented and promoted insightful discussions on a number of issues.  The day began with a review of the many ways by which the Affordable Care Act aims to improve women’s equal access to health care.  This session put in context challenges to the Affordable Care Act as challenges to women’s equality through denial of access to health care, including contraception and abortion. 

Attendees also reviewed decisions on abortion since Roe v. Wade.  Since 1973, the Supreme Court has methodically undercut women’s access to safe and affordable abortion services and a recent slew of federal and state legislation seeks to further limit access to both contraception and abortion.  Another training session examined religious restrictions on access to reproductive health care, including pharmacists’ refusals to fill prescriptions for contraception or even refer women to alternative providers. 

Smaller breakout sessions covered federal funding restrictions on abortion; state and federal legislators’ war on contraception; reproductive justice work in youth, queer, and women of color movements; the intersection of HIV/AIDS and domestic violence in the Asian Pacific Islander community; and the real story of pregnant and parenting teens. 

The day ended with a tour through the careers of several reproductive justice advocates.  This panel provided a broad perspective on the numerous ways law students and graduates can continue to pursue reproductive justice advocacy from inside and outside organizations like Law Students for Reproductive Justice and NWLC.