SPRINGFIELD – While Illinois taxpayers will be forced to pay for abortions possibly as early as January 1st, in 2016, the number of abortions declined by 3.7% – 1,474 less statewide. That's the only good news, however, according to Illinois Right to Life's executive director Emily Troscinski.
“With lax abortion laws and pro-abortion politicians pushing extreme, anti-life legislation like HB 40 and SB1564 through our General Assembly, Illinois is becoming more out of touch with the science and the rest of the country,” Troscinski said.
“Becoming an ‘oasis’ of death is not an accomplishment for our state. It’s a ‘cop-out’ from providing these women with what they really need and deserve: love, assistance, and support."
In 2016 there were 38,382 abortions, down from 39,856 in 2015. The greatest decline came from abortions on high school age girls moving into college, decreasing by 408 abortions (11.9%) on girls ages 15 through 19. That's the lowest number in Illinois since 1973 – the year the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortions.
Abortions also declined in the two counties that historically have the highest rate of abortions: Cook County and Dupage County. In these counties, abortions declined 5% and 5.9 % respectively.
However, the health department shows that even though abortions decreased overall, abortions increased on minor girls aged 0-14 by 26.8%. Abortions on women traveling from out of state also increased by 41.5%.
The state's stats do not include abortifacients taken by mouth, including Plan B. They pertain only medical and/or surgical abortions.
Illinois Right to Life's executive director says the pro-life movement is building an array of resources to support expectant mothers.
“With over 100 pregnancy resource centers in Illinois, maternity homes, grant programs like Project Love, we are building an effective system of support for women in unplanned pregnancies. With this, alongside increased educational efforts by groups like Illinois Right to Life, we are working toward our goal of making abortion unthinkable.”
