Ohio Governor Signs Bill to Help Women Avoid Pressured and Forced Abortions
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 9, 2009
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland may be pro-abortion but even he agrees with pro-life advocates and members of the state legislature that women shouldn’t be subjected to forced or coerced abortions. He recently signed H.B. 280, the Protecting Pregnant Women from Coercion & Violence Act.
The new law helps women avoid potential violence and coerced abortions, but Ohio Right to Life tells LifeNews.com it goes further.
It also will allow proof of a pattern of failing to report known or suspected child sexual abuse in a lawsuit for damages against abortion facilities or others who are required to report child abuse.
To protect women, the legislation requires abortion businesses to post a "No One Can Force You to Have an Abortion" poster.
It requires mandatory minimum prison sentences for assault and increases penalties for domestic violence if the offender knew the victim was pregnant. And it provides mandatory prison sentences and payment of restitution to victims in cases of "human trafficking" for prostitution — which see women frequently taken for abortions.
"We are delighted that Ohio has enacted this law to protect women and children from coercion and abuse," Mike Gonidakis, the director of Ohio Right to Life, said. "All Ohioans should join in opposing coerced abortion and violence against pregnant women."
Gonidakis said the new law will go further by helping keep abortion centers accountable for reporting cases of sexual abuse instead of doing abortions to cover up the crime.
"Although we have a statute requiring professionals to report child abuse, recent reports indicate that some abortion facilities failed to report sexual abuse of minors by adults," he said.
"This new law will clarify that a failure to report can result in recovery of damages and that evidence of a pattern of failing to report abuse can be used in a lawsuit seeking such damages," Gonidakis said.
Related web sites:
Ohio Right to Life – https://ohiolife.org
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