Center for Reproductive Rights
{{Short description|American non-profit organization}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Center for Reproductive Rights
|logo = crr.logo-large.svg
|alt = Logo of Center for Reproductive Rights
|leader_title = President and Chief Executive Officer
|leader_name = Nancy Northup"[https://reproductiverights.org/about-us/leadership-and-staff Center Leadership & Staff]". Center for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
|leader_name2 = Amy Metzler Ritter
|leader_title2 = Chair
|headquarters = New York City
|formation = {{start date and age|1992|05|14}}"[https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx Center for Reproductive Rights]". Division of Corporations. Delaware Department of State. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
|type = Nonprofit organization
|status = 501(c)(3)"[https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/displayAll.do?dispatchMethod=displayAllInfo&Id=937536&ein=133669731&country=US&deductibility=all&dispatchMethod=searchAll&isDescending=false&city=&ein1=&postDateFrom=&exemptTypeCode=al&submitName=&sortColumn=orgName&totalResults=1&names=center+for+reproductive+rights&resultsPerPage=25&indexOfFirstRow=0&postDateTo=&state=All+States Center for Reproductive Rights]". Tax Exempt Organization Search. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
|purpose= The advancement of reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right.
|region_served = Global
|employees = 179"[https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/133669731_201806_990_2019030416143053.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". The Center for Reproductive Rights. Internal Revenue Service. June 30, 2018.
|employees_year = 2017
|volunteers_year = 2017
|revenue_year = 2018
|expenses_year = 2018
|formerly = Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
|website = {{url|http://reproductiverights.org}}
}}
The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) is a global legal advocacy organization, headquartered in New York City,{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/ohio-texas-heartbeat-abortion-ban-womens-health-2017-530351|title=Ohio and Texas are among the battleground states for abortion rights next year|date=2016-12-10|newspaper=Newsweek|access-date=2016-12-10}} that seeks to advance reproductive rights, such as abortion. The organization's stated mission is to "use the law to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right that all governments are legally obligated to protect, respect, and fulfill."{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.reproductiverights.org/about-us|publisher=Center for Reproductive Rights|access-date=15 September 2016}} Founded by Janet Benshoof in 1992, its original name was the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy.{{cite news|last1=Wadler|first1=Joyce|title=Public Lives: Defending the Defenders of Abortion Rights|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/04/nyregion/public-lives-defending-the-defenders-of-abortion-rights.html|access-date=2 March 2016|work=The New York Times|date=November 4, 1998}}
CharityWatch rates the Center for Reproductive Rights "B+".{{cite web|url=https://www.charitywatch.org/ratings-and-metrics/center-for-reproductive-rights/2|title=Charity Watch Top Rated Charities|access-date=19 September 2021}}
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History
{{Update section|reason=No discussion of history from late 2010s onwards (or from before about 2010), not even the CRR's response to the Dobbs decision|date=November 2024}}
In July 2011, the CRR filed suit against the state of North Dakota over a state law that would ban all medical abortions.{{cite press release | url=http://reproductiverights.org/en/press-room/center-for-reproductive-rights-takes-legal-action-to-block-north-dakota-attack-on-women%E2%80%99s | title=Center for Reproductive Rights takes legal action to block North Dakota attack on women's health, abortion rights | publisher=CRR | date=18 July 2011 | access-date=18 September 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423151117/http://reproductiverights.org/en/press-room/center-for-reproductive-rights-takes-legal-action-to-block-north-dakota-attack-on-women%E2%80%99s | archive-date=23 April 2013 }} In July 2013, the CRR, along with the Red River Women's Clinic, filed a lawsuit against the enactment of "heartbeat bills", and genetic and sex selection restrictions on abortions.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/lawsuit-challenges-north-dakotas-abortion-limits.html?_r=0 | title=Lawsuit Challenges North Dakota's Abortion Limits | work=The New York Times | date=25 June 2013 | access-date=18 September 2013 | author=Eckholm. Erik}} In September 2013, a federal judge dismissed the genetic and sex selection parts of the lawsuit without prejudice.{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-dismisses-part-dakota-abortion-lawsuit-20227777 | title=Judge Dismisses Part of N. Dakota Abortion Lawsuit | work=ABC News | date=11 September 2013 | access-date=18 September 2013 | author=MacPherson, James}}
In 2011 the CRR joined with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood to challenge a law passed which requires women to get an ultrasound four hours before an abortion. In addition, it requires the doctor to put the ultrasound image within the view of the woman and describe it. The plaintiffs have called it an "ideological message," and a violation of the First Amendment. And since the patient is not actually required to listen to what the doctor describes and can even choose to wear blinders and headphones, the plaintiffs went on to call it a "farce."{{cite web | url=http://www.news-record.com/news/article_03c9f696-0bf1-11e3-aaa2-001a4bcf6878.html | title=Update: Ruling on ultrasounds still 'several weeks' off | publisher=News & Record | date=29 August 2013 | access-date=29 August 2013 | author=Lopez, Robert}}
File:One Seaport Plaza 005.jpg
After suing the Obama administration over the restricted access to birth control, in June 2013 the U.S. Department of Justice ordered that the Obama administration make all forms of emergency contraception available over the counter and without an age restriction.{{cite web | url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/06/obama-administration-plan-b-one-step-over-counter | title=Buying Plan B Will No Longer Require an ID or a Prescription | publisher=Mother Jones | date=10 June 2013 | access-date=2 August 2013 | author=Sheppard, Kate}}
In recent years,{{When|date=November 2024}} CRR has been one of three primary groups challenging increased state level restrictions to reproductive health and abortion care.{{cite web | url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/06/nancy-northup-abortion-franks-supreme-court | title=Republicans Want to Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks. Here's How One Group Is Fighting Back. | publisher=Mother Jones | date=14 June 2013 | access-date=2 August 2013 | author=Sheppard, Kate}} In May, the CRR and the ACLU jointly filed suit against a 12-week abortion ban in Arkansas.{{cite press release | url=https://www.aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/aclu-and-center-reproductive-rights-ask-federal-court-block-arkansas-abortion | title=ACLU and Center for Reproductive Rights Ask Federal Court to Block Arkansas Abortion Ban | publisher=American Civil Liberties Union | date=17 May 2013 | access-date=14 August 2013}} In June the CRR filed a lawsuit against the state of Kansas to block HB 2253 stating that the abortion restrictions it imposed are unconstitutional.{{cite web | url=http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/06/24/center-for-reproductive-rights-joins-fight-against-kansas-anti-abortion-super-bill/ | title=Center for Reproductive Rights Joins Fight Against Kansas Anti-Abortion Super Bill | date=24 June 2013 | access-date=14 August 2013 | author=Mason Pieklo, Jessica}} In August a coalition of groups, including the CRR, filed suit in Oklahoma to block enforcement of a law that restricts access to emergency contraception, stating that the law is unconstitutional.{{cite web | url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Lawsuit_would_block_states_new_morning_after_pill_law/20130808_504_0_OKLAHO316390?subj=298 | title=Lawsuit would block state's new morning-after pill law | publisher=Tulsa World | date=8 August 2013 | access-date=15 August 2013 | author=Hoberock, Barbara}} In August a federal judge blocked the law from going into effect.{{cite web | url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/22025792-418/oklahoma-judge-blocks-law-restricting-access-to-morning-after-pill.html | title=Oklahoma judge blocks law restricting access to morning-after pill | publisher=Chicago Sun Times | date=19 August 2013 | access-date=22 August 2013 | agency=Associated Press}}
In November 2015, the United States Supreme Court agreed to review stringent restrictions enacted into law by abortion opponents in Texas. Upon coming into force the laws would leave Texas, a state with a population of 27 million, served by only ten clinics, 34 less than the number in service before the laws were enacted. The appeal, handled by the CRR, is U.S. Supreme Court docket number 16-274, Whole Woman's Health v. Cole. It is the first case that the high court has accepted scrutinizing abortion restriction since 2007.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-abortion-idUSKCN0T229F20151113 Supreme court to decide major abortion case for first time since 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201124742/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/13/us-usa-court-abortion-idUSKCN0T229F20151113 |date=2015-12-01 }} Lawrence Hurley reporting in Reuters Fri Nov 13, 2015
In 2016 the CRR expanded its international program, including the launch of an international litigation campaign that has included the first abortion case decided by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the first case to frame preventable maternal deaths as a human rights violation.{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/12/01/ireland_will_pay_damages_to_a_woman_forced_to_travel_abroad_for_an_abortion.html|title=Ireland Will Pay Damages to a Woman Forced to Travel Abroad for an Abortion|last=Cauterucci|first=Christina|date=2016-12-01|newspaper=Slate|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339|access-date=2016-12-10}}