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a clinic is located have felt so intimidated by the presence outside they have asked for the abortion service to be withdrawn.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

I completely support this, totally.

The harassment and bullying of vulnerable women by these psycho fanatics makes me sick. I do think they should be followed home and have to put up with people heckling and bullying them on their doorsteps. Despicable people.

Yes. I wholeheartedly support this.

Totally support this.
However it might be more helpful and quickerl to work with the police to establish on what grounds they decide people are causing a public nuisance and distress to the public, point out that women seeking abortions are ' the public', and work with them to help keep protestors polite.

I used to work somewhere which got regular protests by a bunch of particularly dim and unpleasant people (head of security had to tell all workers not to take the piss when talking to them, as it would lead to even more accusations through megaphones). The police supplied a couple plods to guard the entrance each time, which kept the abuse down and after a couple years the protesters gave up as clearly they didn't like being there so much when they weren't 'free' to shout horrible abuse.

I haven't actually seen protest stalls for years but used to entertain myself pointing out the mistakes and fallacies in their material very loudly.

I totally support this too.

Anyway we can help support the BPAS campaign further? I'd be happy to sign a petition or email support to MP's etc.

NO WAY, leave anti-abortion protesters there to be a voice for the voiceless.

Please support this

mybaby1day, if they want to give a voice to the voiceless, there are plenty of other ways they can make their views known. They do not have to, nor should theybe allowed to, harass women going about their business in accessing a legal medical service.

Less politely, they should fuck the fuck off out of women's personal lives.

Yes

I support this

"A voice for the voiceless"?

Sorry, but that's manipulative rubbish. If those inadequate bullies protesters really cared about the so-called 'voiceless' they'd be calling out with offers of practical help. Not screaming abuse at women who've already made a considered decision.

The best person to decide whether or not a woman is in a position to have a child is - newsflash! - the woman. Not some screeching twat with a placard.

if anyone would bother to read about some of the organisations who are pro-life, you will find out that they do offer practical help and support to women who decide to keep their baby. We do not live in a perfect world and some women feel pressurised into abortions by partners/parents/circumstances and feel they have no choice. I am not personally involved with any pro-life organisation but I Googled 'abortion protesters saved my baby' and found several stories from women who felt they had NO choice but to abort and were actually supported emotionally and practically to make a different choice by the people outside the abortion clinic on the day they went for the procedure. I really do not think that anyone standing outside a clinic should be allowed to harass in any way but if there are women who are feeling they have no choice and they are helped to make the choice THEY want,not their partner/doctor/parent then that has to be positive.

Yes, please support this. I have been in abortion clinics in the us and they have no protest zones, security guards and double security doors to prevent harassment of clients and staff. We do not want to end up like the us is and need to make a stand

Vdb, if that's what you googled I bet you found a few examples.

Try 'abortion protesters harassed me'. Bet you a tenner there's loads more...

marvelous then let them support women who WANT their support at the appropriate point in the process which is NOT at the point where they are trying to walk into their appointment to undergo general anaesthetic and surgery and emerge worn out and in pain from a surgical procedure.

let them spend their money on a tv advertising campaign offering their support to women facing unplanned pregnancy - let them offer the childcare and support and housing etc necessary for those women who want to go ahead. let them join with gingerbread to campaign for better rights and conditions for single parents. let them campaign for decent child support and stand up loudly against charging women to use the csa. let them stand up for women's aid centres so that pregnant women fleeing domestic violence have a choice, let them campaign for affordable childcare and the valuing of the work and value of parenting. let them do any bloody constructive thing they want other than harass women outside clinics.

funnily enough though 9 times out of 10 they tend to also be conservative organisations who do not support single parents, who are anti any policy that may assist single mothers for fear it undermines 'the family' and frequently are also against welfare and public services.

put your money where your mouth is and your action where it really makes a difference.

otherwise it's self indulgent self righteousness targeted at those who have no power to change the system but can only make decisions within it.

some screeching twat with a placard

Amen to that

Excellent post thehoneybadger

A million times yes, support it.

ExACTly.

Actually vdb, can I ask something? Assuming that, let's say, 1 in 10,000 women (I think I'm prob being generous here) really do change their minds on the day of their procedure as a result of the shouting of the placarded ones, does that make it OK to harass and traumatise the remaining 9,999?

Genuine question.

and do the harassers then help that one woman teawamutu? do they give a flying fuck about the actual baby born from their intervention or are real babies just not as appealing as the hypothetical unborn child (that doesn't shit, piss and require food and care and money) that they are speaking for?

No, of course they don't Honeybadger. They want to punish women and feel superior, not genuinely save lives. I'm just interested to hear the anti-choice perspective on how much damage is acceptable in order to change a tiny number of women's minds.

I agree with vdb that it is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to have a reasonable discussion about abortion in any public forum in this country, be it medical, legal or intellectual. Even more true of the US.

Might I suggest that the two primary reasons for this are the blowing of the political wind to the right, so firstly a rise in 'conservative' values of hypocritically holding the the family unity in sanctimonious regard, whilst lambasting and ostracising anything other the the hetro nuclear family.

And secondly and relatedly, the ridiculous, inaccurate and manipulative circuses that the public wings of the 'pro-life' movement hold for example outside birth control clinics.

It's impossible to have a sensible debate with individuals or groups who don't have a coherent argument to advance, just a collection of tactics to play on individual's emotions.

There may be sensible pro-life arguments that those of us opposed to people trying to restrict women's health care choices/autonomy over their bodies aren't aware of, but I've never seen them in the public domain.