Protect Rape Victims and Their Children: Terminate Rapists' Parental Rights!

  • by: Julie S.
  • recipient: State Legislatures of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, and Maryland

I have to text my rapist…I can’t tell what he will do to my daughter.”

These were the words of an 18-year-old woman named Noemi, who recently spoke to CNN about having to share custody of her child with the man who raped her. Noemi’s daughter was conceived during an act of sexual assault. Now, state law prevents Noemi from terminating the parental rights of her attacker. Noemi reported that she feels scared “to leave my daughter with someone I didn’t trust. [I’m] forced to parent with him and see him on a weekly basis.”

Granting custody rights to rapists not only makes children vulnerable to dangerous individuals – this practice also traumatizes mothers who want to put the horrific memory of rape behind them.

Between 5,000 to 16,000 women bear children conceived during rape each year in the United States. Depending on state laws, they may have to share custody of their children with their rapists.

Currently, the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, and Maryland do not have any laws to protect rape victims from custody battles. I cannot even imagine the terror and anguish that mothers like Noemi must experience at having to trust their attackers to care for their children – as well as the agony of having to communicate with their rapists on a regular basis.

To protect rape victims and their children from violence and trauma, please sign and share this petition urging the legislatures of these states to pass laws that would allow rape victims to terminate the parental rights of their attackers.

Honorable Members of the State Legislatures of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, and Maryland:


I am disturbed and outraged that there are currently no laws to protect rape victims from custody battles in the states which you represent.


Granting custody rights to rapists not only makes children vulnerable to dangerous individuals – this practice also traumatizes mothers who want to put the horrific memory of rape behind them.


Between 5,000 to 16,000 women bear children conceived during rape each year in the United States. To protect rape victims and their children from violence and trauma, I urge that you pass legislation allowing rape victims to terminate the parental rights of their attackers.


[Your comments]


Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,


[Your name]

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