Little Rock – The ACLU of Arkansas and other advocates of women’s health will be defending Arkansan women and families at the state house this week.

The Legislature is poised to ban nearly all abortions in the state, debating several bills this week that could prevent a woman from receiving abortion care, no matter her circumstances.

“These bills are an affront to Arkansans,” said Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas.  “Politicians have no right to deny a woman and her family the ability to make such a personal decision about whether to continue her pregnancy to term.  We simply cannot know every woman’s circumstances.”

On Monday, the full House will discuss bills that would ban abortion as early as 20 weeks post-fertilization and prohibit women from purchasing comprehensive insurance plans on the insurance exchange that include abortion care.  On Tuesday, a House committee is scheduled to hear a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in the state of Arkansas.  That bill has already passed the Senate.

The ACLU of Arkansas and its allies will continue to work in the legislature and the courts to defeat efforts to take away the right to decide whether and when to have a child.

For more information, please contact Rita Sklar at the ACLU of Arkansas, 501-374-2660.