Action Alert: Help Abused Women who are Pregnant & Help Prevent Unintended Pregnancies

This action alert that came our way from Marysia contributor of the Nonviolent Choice blog spot. In a previous blog that was posted called Facts on Induced Abortion Marysia pointed out that "Abortion is often part of a whole cycle of intimate-partner and family violence" and has forwarded an action alert from the Family Violence Prevention Fund "Help Abused Women who are Pregnant & Help Prevent Unintended Pregnancies". The Family Violence Prevention Fund is drawing attention to the fact that in January 2006, President Bush signed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Included in this legislation is a new program to fund public education and awareness campaigns around violence against women during pregnancy, and other programs to train health care providers to recognize and help patients who are experiencing violence. But Congress has not funded these programs. This is a critical mistake.
Violence often escalates during pregnancy. Murder is a leading cause of traumatic death for women who are pregnant or just had a baby. Through the health programs included in VAWA, including the public awareness campaign around violence and pregnancy, we can help women and their health care providers recognize signs of abuse, understand how it affects their health, and prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions. Most importantly, we can save the lives of many young mothers who would otherwise be at risk for being killed by abusive boyfriends and husbands.