We remember life before Roe. Educate young people on the importance of reproductive rights

Many women remember the time before the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which cemented a woman’s constitutional right to a safe and legal abortion, when women’s legal reproductive rights were severely limited, forcing many to seek unsafe, illegal abortions in the cases of unwanted pregnancies, putting their lives at risk.

For others, the only America they knew was a country where abortion was legal, and women’s reproductive rights were protected. That was until last year when the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization eliminated the constitutional right to abortion and the ability for millions of people to access one. It is vital that younger generations do not become complacent as women’s rights are being stripped away.

Today, our children and grandchildren are facing a world where women’s rights and access to safe reproductive health care is moving backward, undoing the hard-fought gains that were made decades ago. The number of states that have already enacted laws restricting access to abortion is staggering. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 12 states are enforcing a near-total ban on abortion with very limited exceptions, and four states have laws prohibiting abortion after a specific point in pregnancy, which would have been unconstitutional under Roe. Additionally, the recent federal court ruling on the abortion drug mifepristone threatens to even further limit women’s access to safe abortions nationwide.

The impact of these restrictions on women's lives and health cannot be overstated. Studies have shown that women who are denied access to legal abortions are more likely to experience higher maternal mortality rates and negative mental health outcomes, delay access to essential prenatal care, face increased poverty levels, and seek unsafe abortions, all threats to the health and well-being of women.

As a Jewish organization working for women of all religions, National Council of Jewish Women is particularly committed to eliminating prohibitions on classes of individuals, and to abolishing laws impacting the free practice of religion for all. Jewish law protects and supports reproductive rights, and at a minimum, considers the decision to end a pregnancy to be a personal one. Restrictions on reproductive rights violate the rights of Jews to make decisions about their lives in accordance with the principals of their religion.

NCJW Bergen County Section works in cooperation with Thrive New Jersey, the statewide coalition working to promote reproductive health. As we have done for 100 years, NCJW BCS is fighting for women’s ability to fully exercise their health and reproductive rights and to make informed decisions about their own bodies and lives for the betterment of themselves, their children and their families. To that end, it is crucial that we protect women's reproductive rights and ensure access to safe and legal abortion. We must fight against the harmful restrictions that prevent women from making their independent choice and from accessing the care they need.  We do this by fighting back against restrictive state laws and working to pass federal legislation that protects and expands access to abortion care.

In order to effectively fight against those who wish to take our freedoms away, we must be educated and help educate our younger generations. We must understand how our federal courts and judges play a critical role in this battle. We must understand how issues such as immigration, voting rights, economic justice, and so much more intersect and impact access to essential reproductive health services. We must use our voices and refuse to be silenced. We must take action.

May 28 marks International Day of Action for Women’s Health, and we are asking everyone to educate themselves and stand up and use their voice to help fight for women’s reproductive freedom. These attacks and regressions should fuel our mobilization as we stand firm. We are stronger and louder when we come together. For more information and to learn how you can take action visit www.ncjw.org , International Day of Action for Women’s Health and Thrive New Jersey.

Elaine Meyerson and Ina Miller-Silverstein are co-presidents of the National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ reproductive rights: Educate young people on importance