Should MN support a BPAS call for non-protest 'buffer zones' outside abortion clinics? Tell MNHQ what you think

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello all

We've been contacted by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, who want to know whether Mumsnet can support a call they're going to make for buffer zones around abortion clinics - and as ever we'd like to run it past MNers to see what you think.

Here's what BPAS say:

'Over recent years there has been an escalation in anti-abortion activity outside clinics in the UK. Women attending pregnancy advice and abortion centres are now regularly exposed to groups of anti-abortion activists standing directly outside. Many of these protesters bear large banners of dismembered foetuses, distribute leaflets containing misleading information about abortion, and follow and question women as they enter or leave the centres. Often, these people carry cameras strapped to their chests or positioned on a tripod. Women report feeling intimidated and distressed by this activity as they try to access a lawful healthcare service in confidence. Pregnant staff at clinics have on occasion needed escorting from the building by the police. Recently, NHS staff on premises where a clinic is located have felt so intimidated by the presence outside they have asked for the abortion service to be withdrawn. The closure of a service as a result of anti-abortion activity would be unprecedented.'

'We believe enough is enough.'

'One in three women will have an abortion in her lifetime. We are a society which values freedom of speech, but also one where the vast majority of us support a woman’s access to abortion services. The right to protest needs to be balanced with the right of pregnant women to obtain advice and treatment in confidence and free from intimidation. For those who wish to campaign to restrict women’s reproductive choices, there are plenty of opportunities and locations in which to do so. The space immediately outside a clinic need not and should not not be one of them.'

'Women should feel confident that they can approach centres for advice and services without fear of intimidation, or anxious that their identity will be compromised by protesters filming outside. Establishing access zones free from anti-abortion activists around clinics would provide the reassurance and security women need. We urge all political parties to act to protect women as they make their own personal decision about their pregnancy. Women deserve nothing less.'

We know MNers tend to feel fairly strongly about abortion and that there are views on both sides of this debate - so do please let us know what you think.

Thanks

MNHQ

YES! Completely support this.

I am a pro-life MNetter and I think part of the problem is that discussion on the subject of abortion has effectively been shut down in this country. Only this week at Oxford University,Pro Choice activists forced a debate to be cancelled. If our most respected seat of learning is not even able to facilitate such a debate,then we are losing free speech altogether.

www.spectator.co.uk/features/9376232/free-speech-is-so-last-century-todays-students-want-the-right-to-be-comfortable/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WEDNESDAY+PREVIEW+NEWSLETTER+%2321+%2819+November%29

There are some women I have come across on MN who feel as young girls they were steamrollered into abortions without being supported with alternative choices and have always regretted that. How do we get the balance right? I personally think any verbal heckling/negative comments outside clinics is totally wrong but to quietly hand out information offering support and info re alternative choices should be acceptable.

100% yes - was subjected to this as a frightened 20 year old and it was awful. I am all for providing women with all the facts (note the use of the word "facts") and choices available to them, but this is pure bullying and intimidation

Yes 100%.

The Craicdealer posted exactly what I was going to re Bernadette Smith - although I hadn't seen the silent protest.

to quietly hand out information offering support and info re alternative choices should be acceptable.

The provision of balanced information to women considering an abortion should be carried out long before they are entering a building to have an abortion. That's what pregnancy advisory services are for.

The tactics used by "Precious Life" and their ilk could not in any way be described as "quietly handing out information". They smack of a last-ditch attempt to pull a woman back from having an abortion by whatever means, including emotional abuse.

Cackling "you ain't seen harassment yet" at the director of the clinic when asked to stop isn't exactly "quietly handing out information"

vdb

I started to read the article in your link, but I couldn't get past the first paragraph, littered as it was with hackneyed stereotypes of students and feminists. If the author had a point to make, he sure have parked the ridiculous language and concentrated on the issue.

• should

Another yes from me. 100%.

Yes, definitely. Having seen the awful behaviour from these 'demonstrators' myself I am fully in support of ensuring that vulnerable women are adequately protected from such abuse.

"to quietly hand out information offering support and info re alternative choices should be acceptable."

Agree 100% that outside the clinic is too late.

But also, I have to say that I've never seen anti-choice literature that's balanced and offering support. Without exception, it has been:

1. Disgusting, graphic and inaccurate and designed to make the woman feel like a murderer.
2. Sickly shite along the lines of 'I can't wait to be born! I can't wait to see my mommy's loving smile! ... Today my mommy killed me."

It might be that there's a whole reasonable wing of the movement that's making really nice material offering practical support and I haven't seen it, of course. But that's my experience.

^Just to be clear - I am 100% behind MN supporting BPAS in this.

(I already answered that upthread)

My post is rather badly worded. I think pro-lifers have a legitimate right of protest, but that these should not take place anywhere near the clinics - whether silent, handing out info or whatever.

Just to re-word my post, I'll have the other one withdraw.

The right to protest is a legitimate right - but their protests should be aimed at parliament, MPs, the lawmakers - not the women attending the clinics.

Even a 'silent' vigil (and let's face it - they are far form silent) is intimidating to a woman entering these clinics. The placards are vile and misleading, and frankly, upsetting to anyone walking past - especially children.

I don't believe they have to be there to pray for the souls of the infants - they can do that from their church. I believe they are there to intimidate the women.

Craic I see your point but also note that the silent protest was outside the gates of the building, policed by security officers and, well, silent. If that's what the anti-abortionists do, I would struggle to support this. But it isn't.

totally support this.

It isn't protest about an issue, it is harassment and bullying of individual women and should be seen as such and treated as such.

I agree with pp - if a group wants to protest something, they have the right to petition, lobby parliament, etc. What they do not have the right to do is to bully women. I think anyone harassing women in this way should be arrested. It is not legitimate protest. It is vile.

Yes please support this. As someone who's had an abortion and had people harassing me going in and out of the clinic. It's distressing and shouldn't be allowed.

there is no need to hand out information, the women have made their choice and have been offered information by the appropriate people such as their GP, then women's clinic staff. they have also had the opportunity to read and find out as much as they wish - not how much others wish them to or to read material others wish them to but to find out what they want to know and read what they want to read.

it is a legal procedure and these women are doing nothing wrong and no one has any right to interfere with them accessing a legal medical service.

i don't fanatical christians harassing women legally accessing contraceptive and abortion services, i don't want fanatical muslims harassing people legally buying alcohol and i don't want fanatical sikhs (yet to meet any tbh lol) harassing people outside of hairdressers. people can have whatever beliefs they like and they can petition parliament and argue with the law in appropriate ways as much as they want but they cannot harass, intimidate and otherwise stand in the way of people doing things that are fully legal and supported by this society.

religion and beliefs do not trump individuals rights to do as they please within the law without harassment.

can you imagine if every religious group was given license to harass us wherever we were trying to do something entirely legal but which disagreed with their beliefs?

they can't be given that right and you can't make a special case of abortion and christians.

Yes please support this.

Yes, please support this - I'm glad to have the chance to be able to do something about these disgusting tactics.

Yes I support this.

There's a clinic near us that has a range of services.

Fairly frequently there is a gathering of protesters lining up along each side of the gate, making it impossible for women to access the clinic for any reason without having to walk passed them.

Which I believe must be incredibly difficult, intimidating and upsetting regardless of your reason for being there at the clinic. I don't think they should be there and I don't think they should be allowed within a certain distance of the clinic.

I am also 100% behind this.

Totally support this idea.

I see protesters frequently outside a bpas clinic, makes my blood boil.

I've actually joined to support this thread. In my view choosing a termination is not something most women do lightly. Having made their choice they need support, not intimidation.

I have been thinking about this, and i agree with the posters who make the point that an abortion clinic is primarily a medical facility and women are there to receive a legal medical treatment. So the only implication is that you can't protest where people are having legal medical treatment, as it infringes patient confidentiality and the basic right to treatment.

I can't think of a single other instance where there are actually protests outside other medical facilities
.