American Civil Liberties Union

The Bush Administration is once again putting politics before America's health needs.  In its recently released first-ever national guidelines for treating sexual assault victims, the Department of Justice failed to include information about emergency contraception and the importance of routinely providing it to rape victims at risk of pregnancy.  Media reports indicate that this vital information was in prior versions of the document, but that the Justice Department removed any discussion of emergency contraception from the final draft.

Emergency contraception, often referred to as "the morning after pill," reduces the risk of pregnancy by as much as 89 percent if the first dose is taken within days of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure, but is more effective the sooner it is taken.  Thus, it is essential that emergency facilities routinely provide it to sexual assault survivors.

The 130-page guidelines provide step-by-step medical recommendations for treating sexual assault patients.  Yet despite recognizing that pregnancy is "often an overwhelming and genuine fear" of sexual assault victims, the guidelines include only a single vague sentence on pregnancy prevention.  Nowhere do the guidelines mention emergency contraception.  Nor do they make clear that sexual assault victims have a right to be offered this basic care.

Take Action!  Urge your Members of Congress to Insist that the Department of Justice reinsert pregnancy prevention in the National Guidelines for Treating Sexual Assault Victims.

 Emergency contraception is a safe and effective form of contraception that could prevent up to 22,000 of the 25,000 pregnancies occurring annually from sexual assault. 
Emergency contraception can reduce the risk of pregnancy up to at least 89 percent if taken within days of unprotected sex.  Major medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend that emergency contraception be offered to all sexual assault victims at risk of pregnancy.

 The health of sexual assault victims must trump political interests.  Sexual assault victims have already suffered and should not have to face the additional trauma of unintended pregnancy from the assault.  Routine counseling about and the provision of emergency contraception would help rape victims prevent unintended pregnancy, avoid abortions, safeguard their mental health and protect their reproductive health and rights.

 Studies across the country show that sexual assault victims' health needs are being neglected.  In a recent briefing paper, Preventing Pregnancy after Rape: Emergency Care Facilities Put Women at Risk, the American Civil Liberties Union found that in eight out of eleven states studied, fewer than 40 percent of emergency care facilities routinely provide emergency contraception on-site to rape victims.  The Justice Department should be taking the lead in ensuring sexual assault victims receive the information and treatment they need.

TAKE ACTION!