Ipas responds to WUNC censorship of "reproductive rights" in on-air announcement

Ipas met yesterday with WUNC, the local public radio station which has altered Ipas's on-air underwriting announcement. In the meeting with the station's general manager, Joan Siefert Rose, she made it clear that the decision to not permit the phrase "reproductive rights" on the air was her decision and is not a specific prohibition within the FCC guidelines.

Ipas, whose goal is to promote reproductive health and rights at home and abroad, is a financial contributor to WUNC and simply wishes to describe its work accurately. The announcements in question have aired on WUNC since mid-February, and the text was unchallenged until October.

"We disagree with WUNC's decision and regret that they have taken such a reactionary position," said Anu Kumar, executive vice president of Ipas. "In the last two days, we have heard from many people who have said that they support our mission to save women's lives. While we are committed to communicating with our local community about the importance of reproductive rights, we are uncertain about continuing our support of WUNC."

At issue in the dispute with WUNC is whether Ipas can identify itself as promoting reproductive rights. Ipas is not asking WUNC to broadcast any opinion, rather an accurate description of the organization.

Worldwide, reproductive rights are understood to encompass basic human conditions that must be met in order for women and men to protect their health, control their fertility and develop their full potential.  International bodies from the United Nations to the World Health Organization recognize reproductive rights. The term “reproductive rights" recognizes that all people must be able to access information about their health and contraception, including abortion.  It means that women should be able to live free from rape and violence.  It means that people should be given the tools and information they need to prevent HIV infection and the spread of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Reproductive rights around the globe also seek to protect men and women from coerced or forced sterilizations by governments and other parties.

“Ipas will continue to protect women’s health and well-being by fighting for their reproductive rights. In this political climate, we need to reach out to a wide array of allies and have the courage to fight for what is right and just,” said Kumar.

The text of Ipas’s on-air announcement has been: “Ipas, a Chapel Hill based non-profit that protects women’s reproductive health and rights at home and abroad. More information available at www.ipas.org.”

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258