In a disappointing turn of events, a group of five male legislators in Maryland opted not to repeal a deeply troubling law that forces survivors of sexual assault to negotiate custody arrangements with their aggressors. This group, which was expected to advocate for the rights and protection of women, neglected their responsibility when they allowed a bill aimed at alleviating the burden on rape survivors to languish.
Currently, Maryland stands as one of only seven states that do not permit women to terminate the parental rights of their assailants, according to reproductive rights organization NARAL. This legislation creates an unimaginable situation for women who become pregnant as a result of a sexual assault, forcing them to collaborate with their attackers on child custody and adoption matters.
NARAL’s Maryland branch articulated the grave implications, stating that for women who choose to carry a pregnancy to term, their rapist may assert parental rights, thereby inserting himself into their lives for the next 18 years. In some extreme instances, perpetrators have conditioned consent for adoption on the victim’s promise not to testify against them in court. This policy only serves to perpetuate the trauma experienced by survivors, allowing rapists to continue terrorizing their victims, even from behind bars.
To address this urgent issue, Delegate Emma Collins introduced legislation that would have allowed women to sever their assailant’s parental rights. Although the bill passed both the House and Senate, it required a five-member negotiating group to finalize its text. Instead of fulfilling their duty, the panel of men chose to ignore the bill, running out the legislative session’s clock.
Delegate Collins, who has dedicated years to advocating for this change, left the meeting visibly distraught, feeling that a resolution was out of reach. Unfortunately, Maryland legislators will not revisit this critical legislation until the 2018 session, leaving survivors without resolution for nearly ten months. This is a stark reminder that women who have experienced sexual violence cannot afford to wait while lawmakers delay justice.
The five legislators who failed to protect the women of Maryland include Samuel Greene, Robert Adams, Charles Thompson, Andrew Wilson, and Michael Carter. Their inaction speaks volumes about the need for greater advocacy for survivors’ rights and protections.
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In summary, the failure of male legislators to repeal the law requiring women to share custody with their attackers highlights a significant gap in advocacy for survivors of sexual violence. The emotional toll and logistical challenges faced by these women cannot be overstated, underscoring the urgent need for legislative action.