Local Policy:
The Philadelphia League of Women Voters supports policies and actions that broaden the protection of women’s rights in the city. The League affirms that among these rights is the fundamental right of women to control their own lives and bodies. The League supports all local laws that ensure equity in employment, housing, public accommodations and the provision of city services. It also supports efforts to ensure that the legal system, including the police, probation department and social services, provides full protection for the victims of violence against women, including in cases of abuse and stalking.
State Policy:
N/A
National Policy:
The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.
League History:
After a year of study ordered by the 1982 National Convention, the LWV of the U.S. adopted a Public Policy on Reproductive Choices. State Leagues and local Chapters, including the LWV of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia LWV, concurred with that policy. In the years since, the League has joined with other pro-choice organizations in continuous opposition to restrictions on the right of privacy in reproductive choices at the federal, state and local level. The LWV of the U.S. has been involved in promoting League policies on reproductive decision-making on Capitol Hill, in the federal courts and in the federal agency rule-making process.
Most recently, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Leagues have lobbied to prevent the adoption of a law requiring women to have fetal ultrasounds before being allowed to terminate pregnancy. In addition, they have worked within coalitions to oppose the imposition of burdensome regulations on Planned Parenthood.
Action Items:
- The League will continue to work in coalition with Women’s Way’s Raising Women’s Voices and others to prevent the erosion of women’s right to make their own choices in reproductive issues at the state and local level.
- The League supports all training efforts to make the criminal justice system more responsive to women’s needs for protection from violence, including domestic abuse and stalking.
- The LWV of Philadelphia will support the legal and legislative initiatives of the League of Women Voters of the U.S.