Sexual and reproductive coercion is a form of power and control used by those causing harm in domestic violence relationships. In 2022, over 27,000 contacts to The National Domestic Violence Hotline shared stories about nonconsensual sexual interaction through coercion, guilt, or force. Reproductive coercion includes restricting a partner from seeking care from a healthcare provider and not allowing a partner to make critical decisions for themselves, such as using contraceptives or accessing abortions.

The Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) creates a statutory right for healthcare providers to provide abortion care and a legal right for patients to receive care, free of unnecessary medical restrictions that impede access to safe abortion. WHPA was introduced in the House and Senate by Representatives Chu, Escobar, Frankel, and Pressley in the House (H.R. 12) and by Senators Baldwin and Blumenthal in the Senate (S. 701).

Abortion care is essential for survivors to maintain reproductive autonomy and equitable healthcare access. Tell your Members of Congress that abortion access is critical to domestic violence survivors’ safety.