Department of Justice Fails Rape Victims

Dear ACLU Take Action member:

The creation of national guidelines for treating rape survivors is a positive step forward.

The first-ever guidelines will be distributed to emergency care facilities across the country to help treat sexual assault survivors, but the new guidelines leave out vital information about pregnancy prevention and emergency contraception. Experts say if taken in a timely manner EC could prevent 22,000 of the 25,000 pregnancies occurring yearly from sexual assault.

California is one of just four states that already requires emergency rooms to provide emergency contraception. Urge the Department of Justice to amend the protocol so that residents of every state have access to this crucial information.



Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
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Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Department of Justice Fails Rape Victims

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As a concerned constituent, I urge you to contact the Department of Justice about revising the first-ever national guidelines for treating sexual assault victims to include a full discussion of pregnancy prevention, including counseling about and the provision of emergency contraception.

Including such provisions would help rape victims prevent unintended pregnancies, avoid abortions, and safeguard their reproductive health and rights.

The 130-page guidelines contain step-by-step information for treating sexual assault victims, yet glaringly omit any explicit discussion of emergency contraception. The guidelines recognize that pregnancy is "often an overwhelming and genuine fear" of sexual assault victims, but include only a single, vague sentence on pregnancy prevention. Nowhere do the guidelines mention emergency contraception or recommend that it be offered to rape victims.

I understand that emergency contraception is a safe and effective form of contraception that could prevent 22,000 of the 25,000 pregnancies occurring from sexual assault each year. But emergency contraception works only if taken shortly after the assault, making timely access critical. Studies show that hospitals generally do not provide sexual assault victims with that vital service. Including information about emergency contraception in the national guidelines would be a big step toward ensuring that rape victims receive appropriate care.

Again, I ask that you urge the Department of Justice to revise the sexual assault treatment guidelines to include counseling about and the provision of emergency contraception.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
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What's At Stake:

  • Despite recognizing that pregnancy is "often an overwhelming and genuine fear" of sexual assault victims and providing step-by-step medical recommendations for treating sexual assault patients, the 130-page 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.
  • Emergency contraception (EC) 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. EC 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.

- For more information about the failure of emergency facilities to provide EC to sexual assault patients see the ACLU briefing paper, Preventing Pregnancy after Rape: Emergency Care Facilities Put Women at Risk

- Want to get even more involved? Visit the Back Up Your Birth Control website for additional ideas.


Campaign Expiration Date:
April 30, 2005