Soler on Sexual Coercion in Washington Times
Family Violence Prevention Fund President Esta Soler was published in the Washington Times this week, refuting the effectiveness of the Prevention of Coerced and Unsafe Abortions Act, and explaining the hard truths of sexual coercion that many women face every day.
Soler’s letter to the editor can be viewed online here: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/26/abortion-policies/
Or the text of the letter is available here:
Regarding last weekend’s editorial (”Forced to abort,” Jan. 18), we can all agree that coerced abortion is wrong. There is no dispute about that. However, reproductive control comes in many forms - forcing a woman to have an abortion, forcing a woman to continue a pregnancy that is not her choice and, most often, coping with an abusive partner who refuses to use contraception. We need comprehensive solutions that address coercion and abuse and deal with the complexities of women’s lives. The Prevention of Coerced and Unsafe Abortions Act does not.
Relationship violence and reproductive coercion have direct reproductive-health consequences, putting many women at grave risk for unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. However, there are ways to help. We need laws that promote violence prevention; train health care providers to assess patients for abuse; ensure women’s access to a full range of reproductive health services; and prevent violence and coercion in the next generation by teaching young people the importance of building healthy relationships.
Esta Soler
President, Family Violence Prevention Fund
I think he just wanted to get me pregnant for some reason, so that I don’t mess with nobody else or anything… It’s basically… a way of saying I’m already taken."
