Bill To Block Rapists' Parental Rights Remains Stalled In Ohio Senate

[ismnotwasm]

In Ohio and 30 other states, a man who impregnates a woman through rape can successfully sue her for child custody and visitation rights. While there is a bill currently pending in the Ohio State Senate that would block attackers' parental rights, it has been stalled in the Criminal Justice Committee since it was introduced in January.

On Wednesday, three Ohio State University students with the reproductive rights organization Choice USA will deliver a petition to State Sen. John Eklund (R), chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, demanding that he advance the bill. The petition, created by the progressive advocacy group Ultraviolet, has already collected 60,000 signatures.

"No survivor should have to worry that her attacker is going to sue her if she becomes pregnant and has a child because of the rape," the petition says. "No one should have to spend a lifetime tethered to their rapist, especially if it means watching a violent offender raise your child. But this is a potential reality for the 32,000 women who become pregnant from rape each year."

Eklund did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since convicted rapist Ariel Castro held three women captive in his basement for 10 years in his Ohio home, repeatedly raping them and impregnating one, multiple Ohio state lawmakers have introduced bills that would protect rape survivors from child custody lawsuits. Castro had asked for permission during his trial to see the 6-year-old girl he fathered by sexual assault.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/18/rapists-parental-rights_n_4988394.html