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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 23, 2024 | The Indian Eye 22

Adams Administration Releases Sexual

and Reproductive Health Bill of Rights

Enshrines Right to Dignified, Respectful,

and Compassionate Sexual Reproductive Health Care for All

OUR BUREAU

NEW YORK, NY
s the right to access abortion
care has been stripped away
Afrom over one-third of U.S.
women, New York City Mayor Eric
Adams today announced the city is
further enshrining its commitment to
reproductive rights, releasing the Sex-
ual and Reproductive Bill of Rights.
This Bill of Rights defines health as
inclusive of access to sexual health
care, birth control, gender-affirming
health care, and abortion services,
and will help ensure that all patients
in New York City are protected from
discrimination and harassment relat-
ed to their sexual and reproductive
health care decisions. The Sexual and
Reproductive Bill of Rights will be
distributed to the New York City De-
partment of Health and Mental Hy-
giene’s (DOHMH) network of health
care providers, advocacy groups, and
partner organizations across the city
to share with patients.
“Two years ago, the Supreme
Court stripped women of the right to
control their own bodies, and since
then, cities and states across the coun-
try have worked tirelessly to com-
pletely limit abortion access to Amer-
icans,” said Mayor Adams. “As much
of the nation continues their attacks Williams-Isom. “With the release of Reproductive Health Bill of Rights and exercising these rights is just
on abortion care, we won’t ever allow the Sexual and Reproductive Health will enshrine the right to comprehen- as important. That is why the city is
this right to be stripped away here in Bill of Rights, we are communicating sive reproductive health and family launching the Sexual and Reproduc-
New York City. We are issuing a Sex- clearly with providers all across the planning, continuing the promise tive Health Bill of Rights and bringing
ual and Reproductive Health Bill of city about what is right and just in a of ‘Women Forward NYC’ to help additional abortion services online —
Rights today to do everything in our health care environment. Patients and all women, including transgender to provide support that helps people
power to ensure abortion and repro- providers alike can now have more and gender expansive New Yorkers, navigate multiple barriers to care. Ev-
ductive health care remain available clarity in these care conversations and thrive.” eryone deserves to receive reproduc-
to residents and visitors alike. This know that New York City stands with “Abortion care is health care, tive health care in a safe, high-quality,
is about protecting women’s choices them at each step along the way.” health care is a human right, and New dignified environment.”
and their freedoms.” “While rights to reproductive Yorkers, and all Americans, have a In 2022, in its Dobbs v. Jackson
“New York City has acted to health for women, transgender, and right to exercise their rights by mak- Women’s Health Organization, the
protect reproductive rights and gender expansive people are erod- ing health care decisions about their U.S. Supreme Court overturned the
has strengthened access to ser- ed nationally, this administration is own bodies,” said DOHMH Commis- federal right to access safe, legal abor-
vices through the Abortion Access a leader in ensuring all New Yorkers sioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Abortion tion care nationwide.
Hub and other programs launched receive necessary health care,” said remains legal in New York, but we Since that decision, New York
by DOHMH and NYC Health + Deputy Mayor for Housing, Econom- know that protected rights are neces- City has introduced a range of ser-
Hospitals,” said Deputy Mayor for ic Development, and Workforce Ma- sary, but not sufficient, to guarantee vices to protect and fulfill the local
Health and Human Services Anne ria Torres-Springer. “This Sexual and access to care. Knowing your rights right to access abortion care.

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