WHEREAS, the rights of all women are paramount to the National Organization for Women (NOW); and
WHEREAS, agency over her own body is essential to every woman’s freedom; and
WHEREAS, the criminalization of pregnant women for substance abuse, addiction, or a history of substance abuse disproportionately affects women of color and poor women;
WHEREAS, the criminalization of pregnant women grants fetal rights over a woman’s bodily autonomy and liberty; and
WHEREAS, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) have both found this practice of criminalizing women objectionable; and
WHEREAS, criminalizing pregnant women deters pregnant women with substance abuse issues from seeking prenatal care or medical assistance; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NOW will use its legislative and legal resources at the state level to help repeal legislation that allows states to criminalize and incarcerate pregnant women for substance abuse issues or substance abuse history;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NOW will support legislation that protects the rights of these pregnant women; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NOW PAC will add a question about the criminalization of pregnant women to its candidate questionnaire.