Social and economic injustice: Access to abortion for poor women in the United States

Restrictions on Medicaid funding for abortion make it substantially more difficult for poor women and women of color to access abortion care and for health care providers to ensure access to that care. The presentation will draw on a recently-completed human rights fact finding investigation that documents the impact of funding restrictions on women's access to abortion in the U.S. The presentation will provide an overview of laws restricting use of federal and state money for abortion, including Medicaid and the health care reform bill. The presentation will discuss the findings of the fact-finding investigation, with reference to women's reported experiences in trying to access abortion, providers' experiences in providing care, and the human rights violations caused by funding restrictions. Finally, the presentation will address proposals for legal and community advocacy to challenge funding restrictions.