SNEK POLICY
Abortion: Bodily Autonomy, Viability and State Limits
SNEK believes abortion presents a real conflict between a woman’s bodily autonomy and the developing rights of unborn human life. Viability is the point where that balance changes.
Before viability, the decision belongs to the woman
Before fetal viability, abortion should generally remain legal and the decision should belong to the woman in consultation with her medical provider. Government should be extraordinarily cautious about controlling a pregnancy occurring inside her body.
Viability changes the equation
Once a fetus is medically viable, SNEK believes it has a meaningful independent right to life. Viability should be determined medically in the individual pregnancy rather than reduced to one arbitrary nationwide week.
After viability, elective abortion should generally end
Post-viability elective abortion should generally be restricted, while the woman’s medical rights remain protected.
Exceptions must remain
Exceptions should include threats to the mother’s life, serious threats to her physical health, fatal or catastrophic fetal conditions, rape, incest, and comparable extraordinary medical circumstances.
Do not prosecute the woman
SNEK does not support criminal prosecution of women for obtaining abortions. Where a state establishes post-viability restrictions, legal enforcement should focus on providers who knowingly violate the law outside recognized exceptions.
Keep contraception legal
Birth control, condoms, IUDs, emergency contraception, and other lawful contraceptive methods should remain legal and accessible.
Make carrying a pregnancy realistic
SNEK supports better prenatal care, maternal healthcare, childbirth care, postpartum care, adoption reform, and assistance for women who want to continue a pregnancy but are struggling financially.
Leave primary regulation to the states
SNEK’s preferred framework is bodily autonomy before viability and protection of viable fetal life after viability, but primary abortion regulation should remain at the state level.
Government needs humility
SNEK does not pretend this is an easy issue. Women and medical professionals need a substantial voice in how these policies work in practice, while the rights of viable unborn life are also recognized.
The SNEK position
Protect bodily autonomy before viability. Protect viable unborn life after viability. Maintain broad medical and extraordinary-circumstance exceptions. Do not prosecute women. Keep contraception legal. Improve support for mothers and adoption. Leave primary regulation to the states.
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Why SNEK thinks this
SNEK sees abortion as a genuine collision between two important interests: a woman’s bodily autonomy and the developing rights of unborn human life. The platform uses viability as the point where that balance changes while still recognizing that pregnancy occurs inside the woman’s body.
How it would work
Before viability, abortion should generally remain legal and the decision should stay with the woman and her medical provider. After viability, elective abortion should generally end, while exceptions remain for threats to the mother’s life, serious threats to her physical health, fatal or catastrophic fetal conditions, rape, incest, and comparable extraordinary medical circumstances. Viability should be determined medically in the individual pregnancy rather than by one rigid national week. Enforcement should focus on providers who knowingly violate lawful post-viability limits, not on prosecuting the woman.
Where we’re flexible or still working it out
SNEK intentionally leaves primary regulation to the states and acknowledges that medical edge cases do not fit perfectly into slogans. Contraception and emergency contraception remain legal. The platform also pairs later limits with better prenatal care, maternal care, childbirth and postpartum support, adoption reform, and practical help for women who want to continue a pregnancy but are struggling.
Related SNEK policies
A Safety Net That Protects People and Builds Families • Adult Autonomy, Identity and Compelled Participation