A woman shouldn’t have to co-parent with the man who raped her [View all]

[jpak]

http://bangordailynews.com/2016/02/27/opinion/a-woman-shouldnt-have-to-co-parent-with-the-man-who-raped-her/

Under current Maine law, when a pregnancy results from a sexual assault, very few legal protections exist for a woman who wants to terminate the parental rights of the person who raped her.

A bill before the legislature sponsored by Sen. Bill Diamond, LD 1477, “An Act To Protect Victims of Sexual Assault,” would help reduce barriers for victims of sexual assault who wish to raise their child and have the parental rights of the person who raped them terminated.

Each year 5 percent of female victims between the ages of 12 and 45 become pregnant as a result of rape, with an estimated 32,000 pregnancies annually nationwide. As though the trauma and repercussions of sexual violence are not enough, such victims are also forced to make a complex and difficult personal decision: terminate their pregnancy, make an adoption plan or raise a child conceived from rape.

A woman’s decision to raise a child conceived from rape should not come with the additional burden of having to co-parent with the man who raped her. Men who father children through rape should be prevented from causing further harm to their victim.

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