Access to abortion: beyond the legal guarantees of Roe.

What is the role of the women's health movement in the national struggle over abortion? The National Women's Health Network believes that safe abortion is an essential aspect of ensuring women's good health, just as safe childbirth and respect for women's sexual autonomy are also essential.

In 1972, the Supreme Court decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton gave women the right to decide about abortion without state interference, and women's health improved with national access to legal abortion. Defending the rights guaranteed in Roe against challenges by those who believe abortion is always wrong has been an important task of the reproductive rights movement ever since then.

But NWHN's approach to abortion is much broader than defending Roe or any other court case. We work to defend women's access to all necessary reproductive health services and information, including abortion. And we understand that just keeping abortion legal doesn't make it accessible, and doesn't ensure that the service is provided in a manner that is respectful and safe for all women.

Articles in this issue touch on two important aspects of the struggle to make abortion, like other reproductive health services, available to all women regardless of their income or age. From California, Cynthia Choi reports about the role of young immigrant women in organizing against and defeating a state ballot initiative that would have removed young women's right to make their own decisions about abortion. In addition, NWHN Board member Susan Schewel describes the crucial role of abortion funds since Congress prohibited federal funds from being used for abortion services. NWHN supports these efforts--I hope you'll use the contact information included in these articles to find out how you can get involved.

NWHN also works to ensure that abortion is provided in a manner that is as safe as possible and that respects women's dignity and ability to make good choices. We advocate for science-based consideration of new techniques and emerging issues (see "Medical Abortion: The FDA Gets it Right" in the May/June issue) and speak out to set the record straight when opponents falsely claim that abortion causes health problems. We applaud abortion providers' courage, many of whom have faced personal threats and violence, as they work to help women. And we're inspired by the emergence, just this year, of The Consortium: A national network of nonprofit feminist abortion providers, a group of clinics that are using their long-standing, hands-on experience to speak out and build support for high-quality and comprehensive reproductive health services for all women.

Two years ago, over 1 million women, men and children took part in the March for Women's Lives. Those who gathered understood that abortion is a necessary part of a much broader agenda enhancing women's health. The vision of the marchers hasn't yet come to pass, but the struggle still continues, and NWHN is still committed to this goal. I hope you'll join us.

by Cynthia Pearson, Executive Director