University of California Berkeley's School of Law is launching its new Center for Reproductive Rights and Justice, a study on the impacts of reproductive rights and laws on women, families and society as the mark of Roe vs Wade has its 40th Anniversary. Jill E. Adams is the Executive director. Dr. Adams has brought about the Law Students for Reproductive Justice from "fledgling to sustainable" in the work accomplished by this group. She has been awarded the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Fellowship. As a result of her contribution to the field of employment discrimination, domestic violence and advocacy for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AID in Spain, she has led the way for the development and launch of the Center for Reproductive rights.
Pulitzer prize nominee Professor Kristin Luker is the founder of the Center through her work in the study of the legal, economic and social impact of reproductive laws on women, families and society. The Center seeks to bridge the gap of understanding, balance and policies among disparate groups and hard lined positions on the eve of the 40th Anniversary of Roe vs Wade. The research center marks the fact that four decades since the Supreme Court decision, a "backlash has led to a constitutional right to abortion so laden with restrictions that it has been rendered out of reach for women." Inaccessible on many levels socially, economically and still out of reach for those who would most benefit from the oppression and hardship poor families and communities suffer all over the world.
You don't have to look far to see the effects described by the Center. While Stop Patriarchy groups-formed by the American Association of University Women in Los Altos march at the Civic Center to mark the anniversary of Roe vs Wade, they will meet Walk for Life congregation of pro life supporters at Civic Center and march together down Market Street. Differences in beliefs and practices are what life is about in the San Francisco Bay Area. People have a tolerance and even an interest in alternative viewpoints not their own.
But as the founder of the Center for Reproductive Rights and Justice states their position, deeper understanding is imperative to those impacted by the differences that limit the lives of people. "As the nation is absorbed with politically charged debate over abortion, larger issues of women and family health services have been obscured," Luker states. And Jill E. Adams sees the work ahead to take on "examining the courts, legislation and regulations in operation for families in court and community services." Professor Adams feels that a clearer view of how the laws and policies are playing out for women and their families in "everyday life"is where we can gain that deeper understanding that would serve more justice for all women.
Kristin Luker, Jill E. Adams and Melissa Murray will spearhead the project going forward. For information, contact sgluss@law.berkeley.edu.
httphttp://elcerrito.patch.com/articles/rallies-mark-40th-anniversary-of-roe-vs-wade-decision
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