1. Reproductive Coercion
Connecting the Dots: Coerced Pregnancy and Domestic Violence
Katherine Kerr

2. Outline What is Reproductive Coercion?
Why is it relevant to legal practitioners?
How to ask aboutdisclosures of RC
Support services
Systemic issues to be aware of

3. About us
Counselling, information and education services on all options with an unplanned pregnancy
Abortion
Adoption
Parenting
Pro-choice and client-centred

4. Reproductive Coercion
Interference with reproductive and sexual autonomy
Pregnancy Promotion
Contraceptive Sabotage
Pregnancy Outcome Control
Before Sexual During Sexual Post
Intercourse Intercourse Conception

5. Pregnancy Promotion
Pressured, coerced or forced by their partner to become pregnant against their wishes
Unprotected sex pressure
Threats
Monitoring menstrual cycles
Forced ovulation kits and pregnancy testing kids
Monitoring for signs of pregnancy
Physical or sexual violence

6. Contraceptive Sabotage and Interference
Reproductive preferences are ignored or disregarded by her sexual partner through behaviours that prevent effective contraceptive use
Regardless of intention
Contraception destroyed
Vaginal rings taken out
Intrauterine devices removed
Medical appointments sabotaged
Prevent access to Morning After Pill
Fertility Awareness Methods ignored

7. Intimate Partner Sexual Violence and Sexual Coercion
Forced sexual activity Unwanted sexual activity where the victim is pressured, tricked, threatened or forced in a non-physical way
Pregnancy promotion and contraceptive interference may include forced unprotected penetrative sex
Elevated risk of serious harm and intimate partner homicide
Risks of pregnancy as a strategy to prevent her leaving

8. Pregnancy Outcome Control
Control over the outcome of the pregnancy for it to end in either abortion or birth
Threats to kill or harm
Shaming her for her decision to terminate
Sabotaging her abortion appointment
---
Violence to cause a miscarriage
Forced abortion
Preventing prenatal care

9. Contraception and Sex in Domestic Violence
DV does not facilitate safe negotiation of contraception or sex
RC often co-occurs with other violent, controlling behaviours
Fear to negotiate contraception or sex
Women may “consent” to sex to prevent escalation of physical violence
Reproductive agency vs Loss of safety in enforcing reproductive agency

10. Coerced Pregnancy and Parenting
Unintended pregnancy 4x more likely to experience physical violence from a partner
Having children in a violent relationship decreases the likelihood and ease of separation
Fears for children’s safety in his care
Fears for children’s wellbeing from exposure to violence
Fears children will be used by him in revenge
Barriers of Family Law system

11. Motivations for Perpetration
Masculine gender ideologies around fertility
Beliefs that men who have many children are powerful
Guarantee continued connection with their victim through pregnancy and co-parenting
Belief that they have ownership of women and their fertility

12. Identifying Reproductive Coercion Past
Warning signs of potential past RC
Many children, close together in age
Indicators of other high risk factors

13. Identifying Reproductive Coercion Present
Is there any chance you could be pregnant?
How are you feeling about the pregnancy?
Would you like to discuss your options?
Are you worried about becoming pregnant?
Are you using contraception?
How does your partner react to, or influence, your contraceptive choices?
Would you like some information on your contraceptive options?

14. Language
✓ Pregnancy Gestation / Weeks “The best decision” “Man involved” Continue / End
✗ Baby Early / Late Right / Wrong Dad / The Father “Keep it” / “Get rid of it”

15. Contraception and DV

16. Abortion Regulated at a State or Territory level
Criminal law
Health law
Combination of both
Abortion is a criminal offence in Queensland
Still available through GPs and private, accredited clinics
WHO – abortion is one of the safest and most common medical or surgical procedures when performed by a qualified health professional

17. Abortion Law in Queensland
Criminal Code 1899 (Qld) s 224 Attempts to procure abortion Any person who, with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman, whether she is or is not with child, unlawfully administers to her or causes her to take any poison or other noxious thing, or uses any force of any kind, or uses any other means whatever, is guilty of a crime, and is liable to imprisonment for 14 years. s 225 The like by woman with child Any woman who, with intent to procure her own miscarriage, whether she is or is not with child, unlawfully administers to herself any poison or other noxious thing, or uses any force of any kind, or uses any other means whatever, or permits any such thing or means to be administered or used to her, is guilty of a crime, and is liable to imprisonment for 7 years. S 226 Supplying drugs or instruments to procure abortion Any person who unlawfully supplies to or procures for any person anything whatever, knowing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to procure the miscarriage of a woman, whether she is or is not with child, is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for 3 years.

18. Lawful Abortion in Queensland
Abortion may be lawfully performed where there is:
An honest and reasonable belief that the abortion is necessary to prevent serious harm from occurring to the pregnant woman
AND
The abortion is not disproportionate to the harm sought to prevent
R v Davidson (1969) VR 667.
K v T [1983] 1 Qd R 396 (civil)
R v Bayliss and Cullen (1986) 8 Qld Law Reps 8.
R v Brennan and Leach [2010] QDC 329.

19. Conclusion Remain client-centred and non-judgmental
Do not become complicit in the perpetrator’s reproductive coercion
Identify issues
Provide options and referrals and support

20. Referral Agencies Children by Choice 1800 177 725
Counselling, information and referral
True (formerly Family Planning Qld) www. true.org.au
Clinical services: contraception
Contraceptive Services, Abortion Clinics and Providers: