“Illinois’ current law on parental notice of abortion offers a key opportunity to recognize and free a trafficking victim from a lifetime of slavery."

-Dr. Laura Lederer, leading anti-trafficking expert, Global Centurion Foundation

HB 1797 and SB 2190 Would Repeal Parental Notice and Empower Sexual Predators Against Young Girls

• Repealing parental notification allows older men and sex traffickers to use abortion to conceal evidence of their sexual abuse of minor girls. The average age of a trafficked girl is 13.

• 32% of teen mothers ages 15-17 are impregnated by men older than 20. (National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)

• A March 2021 poll by the Tarrance Group shows that 72% of Illinoisians are in favor of keeping the Parental Notice of Abortion law, with support even higher among people of Color. Every state bordering IL requires notification or consent. 

• The current Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act already provides procedures for girls in extenuating circumstances to obtain an abortion without notifying an adult family member: (1) a judicial waiver for those not wishing to inform their parents and (2) a blanket waiver for minors who attest to abuse at home.

• In Illinois, a nurse can't give a minor an aspirin, nor can a girl get her ears pierced, without the permission (not just notification) of a parent or guardian. 

• Parents who don’t know about an abortion are unable to provide appropriate aftercare for their girls, such as extra support, counseling, or ensuring she is not at school or another public place when she passes the fetal remains.

Girls' Health First Takes a Stand Against The Repeal of the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act

Teens and parents need to talk. But sometimes a teen in a crisis may not go to the person who can best provide emotional, financial and spiritual support - a parent or legal guardian. Or worse, an abusive adult tries to prevent the teen from speaking to her parent or guardian in order to cover up their own wrongdoing.

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That's why Illinois has the commonsense Parental Notice of Abortion Law - to protect Illinois girls and help parents support their kids through tough times.

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The Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion law requires a parent or legal guardian to be notified before an abortion is performed on a minor (age 17 and under).

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Unfortunately, wealthy special interest groups wish to repeal this essential safeguard for Illinois girls. HB 1797 and SB 2190 have been introduced in the IL General Assembly to do just that. They claim that notice to a parent or guardian is too burdensome, but notice is legally required for a minor to use an indoor tanning bed, get a body piercing, go on a field trip, or get an aspirin from the school nurse.

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Girls' Health First is a group of concerned women and girls. We stand united in our support to defeat these harmful bills and keep Parental Notice to protect vulnerable girls. 

Did you know? The average age of a trafficked girl is 13.

Leading anti-trafficking experts support parental notification laws as a crucial safeguard for girls.

Girls deserve EVERY safeguard against abuse that society can offer.

Put girls’ safety over predators’ preferences. Please urge your State Representative and State Senator in Springfield to vote NO on HB 1797 & SB 2190.

“If my mother had had to be notified, she might have been able to find me." Dr. Brook Bello, trafficking survivor

"Hands Off" Yard Signs

Show your support for the right for parents to know and help their minor daughter, before an abortion is performed on her. 

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Abortion is a life altering medical procedure that affects more than one person.  

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By putting a yard sign in your yard or at your business, you'll bring awareness to your community about the harmful movement to strip concerned parents of a fundamental right in addition to an important safeguard for abused and manipulated girls.