SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS ( April 3rd, 2014 ) The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, ACLU of Illinois, and Chicago Abortion Fund are hosting an Advocacy Day to raise awareness and ask for a repeal of the dangerous Parental Notification of Abortion Law in Illinois.
Currently, 38 States in the US require parental notification or consent prior to youth obtaining abortion services. The Parental Notification of Abortion Law in Illinois requires that any person under 17 years of age seeking access to abortion services must have an adult family member ( someone over 21 who is a parent, grandparent, step-parent who lives with you, or legal guardian ) notified 48 hours before a medical provider can perform the abortion.
While conversations should be and are encouraged between youth and families, mandating parental involvement at times puts youth in danger of violence, homelessness, or unsafe means of abortion. While research shows that most youth who seek abortions choose a trusted adult for support, not all have a safe home or an understanding adult family member with whom they can have these critical conversations. Therefore, youth who cannot risk notifying an adult family member can either request a judicial bypass of parental notification, or travel as far as Nevada or Washington, DC in order to access safe, legal abortion care.
Advocacy Day 2014 will focus on amplifying the stories of youth while encouraging intergenerational conversations around sex, sexuality, pregnancy, abortion and the ways we can work together to create safe spaces for these conversations. After training and education, youth and adult allies will have the opportunity to engage legislators in similar conversations.
Participants will end the day with a youth-led rally in the Capitol Rotunda.
WEBSITE: stoppna.org/ .
WHEN: April 3rd, 2014 from 6am to 7pm
Schedule:
6am - Board Buses in Chicago
6:30am - Depart Chicago
10am - Advocacy Day Training
11:30am - Lunch
12:30pm - Legislator Meetings
2pm - Youth-Led Rally
3pm - Depart for Chicago
WHERE: From Chicago to the State Capitol, Springfield, IL
Transportation available, RSVP required for first-come, first-serve seating. An ADA accessible bus will be available.
COST: Free for participants. Food will be provided.
Questions to Tiffany Pryor, Organizing and Advocacy Coordinator, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, tiffany@icah.org, 312-427-4460 ext. 236.
