Center for Reproductive Rights

The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) is a global reproductive rights organization that uses constitutional and international law to secure women's right to an abortion in over 45 countries.^[1] Founded in 1992, its original name was the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy.

Headquartered in New York City, the Center has recently expanded its international program, including the launch of an international litigation campaign that has included the first abortion case decided by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the first case to frame preventable maternal deaths as a human rights violation.

Under the direction of its president, Nancy Northup, the Center has expanded human rights to its work in the United States. It is now documenting U.S. rights violations through fact-finding reports and holding the U.S. accountable before U.N. bodies that monitor compliance with international treaty obligations.

The Center continually monitors the treatment of reproductive rights in various media^[2] in the US and abroad.

Charity Watch rates the Center for Reproductive Rights "A".^[3]

Campaigns

In July, 2011 the CRR filed suit against the state of North Dakota over a state law that would ban all medical abortions.^[4] In July 2013, the CRR, along with the Red River Women's Clinic, filed a lawsuit of the enactment of "fetal heartbeat", genetic, and sex selection restrictions on abortions.^[5] In September 2013, a federal judge dismissed the genetic and sex selection parts of the lawsuit without prejudice.^[6]

In 2011 the CRR joined with the ACLU and Planned Parenthood to challenge a law passed which requires women to get an ultrasound four hours before an abortion. In addition, it requires the doctor to the put the ultrasound image within the view of the woman and describe it. The plaintiffs have called it an "ideological message," and a violation of the First Amendment. And since the patient is not actually required to listen to what the doctor describes and can even choose to wear blinders and headphones, the plaintiffs went on to call it a "farce."^[7]

After suing the Obama administration over the restricted access to birth control, in June 2013 the U.S. Department of Justice ordered that the Obama administration make all forms of emergency contraception available over the counter and without an age restriction.^[8]

In recent years, CRR is one of three primary groups challenging increased state level restrictions to reproductive health and abortion care.^[9] In May, along with the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against a 12 week abortion ban in Arkansas.^[10] In June the CRR filed a lawsuit against the state of Kansas to block HB 2253 stating that the abortion restrictions it imposed is unconstitutional.^[11] In August a coalition of groups, including the CRR, filed suit in Oklahoma to block enforcement of a law that restricts access to emergency contraception, stating that the law is unconstitutional.^[12] In August a federal judge blocked the law from going into effect.^[13]

In 2012 the CRR started the "Draw the Line" campaign to bring awareness to reproductive rights.^[14]

In November 2015 the United States Supreme Court agreed to review stringent restrictions enacted into law by abortion opponents in Texas. Upon coming into force the laws would leave Texas, a state with a population of 27 million, served by only ten clinics, 34 less than the number in service before the laws were enacted. The appeal, handled by the Center for Reproductive Rights, is U.S. Supreme Court docket number 16-274, Whole Woman's Health v. Cole. It is the first case that the high court has accepted scrutinizing abortion restriction since 2007.^[15]

See also

• Center for Reproductive Law & Policy v. Bush

References