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a clinic is located have felt so intimidated by the presence outside they have asked for the abortion service to be withdrawn.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

How on earth can you possibly suggest that these protests are not harassing the women using the clinics? Who are there quite legally?

Sre you totally without any kind of empathy for the women who are trying to access a service that is completely legal, and something that they have every right to decide upon?

Yes. Please suport this.

Aduaz, normally I don't remember people's poster names unless they're particularly witty. But I have seen you being vile on so many threads in the last few weeks that I'm afraid your name has stuck in my mind. You've been on a thread started to offer support to women who've been raped and devoted countless posts to defending victim blaming despite people telling you at length how wrong you were, and despite the fact that it was a thread where women had shared very painful experiences and explained how much victim blaming had hurt them and made their psychological recovery even more difficult than it would have been otherwise. You've been on several threads on breast feeding in public, saying how disgusting you find it when women feed their babies when you're trying to eat. And now you're here saying you think it's fine to harrass women who are going about their legally sanctioned right to access healthcare.

Fortunately, I very rarely encounter men like you, but I'm afraid your posts over the last few weeks have left me feeling that you are that rare animal, a man who genuinely dislikes and despises women. I'm sure you will protest that this is not so, but hey, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.

I suggest to all the other people on this thread that they simply stop engaging with you. If we imagine there is a virtual "hide poster" button. Starved of the oxygen of publicity, perhaps he will go away.

Ah, didn't know Aduaz was a regular.

Thanks for info Lurcio.

Yes, yes, yes to the buffer zones.

Yes please support this MNHQ

Yes from me too, happy to see so many yesses!

Yes, absolutely to buffer zones.

About 9 years ago I supported a rape victim through attempting to seek a abortion,it was her choice and she was very well informed.

Unfortunately on the day I took her to the clinic there was a protest outside she was so distressed she didn't go in.

Her baby was born but only lived a few weeks she killed herself less than a year later.

The protesters cheered when she didn't go in.

That is why I have shared the link

Yes from me too.

I am sure almost every woman feels some emotional impact from having an abortion, and it will almost always be a difficult decision to take and live with. They do not need to have this made more traumatic. What they are doing is legal. If there must be protests they should be aimed at the law courts/politicians.

In addition, some people have mentioned very traumatic situations resulting in the need for an abortion. Also some women are strongly advised to have 'therapeutic abortions' because either their own life is endangered by continuing the pregnancy, or their baby has severe defects incompatible with life. I would love to have a 3rd child but have been strongly advised not to due to the serious complications I have in pregnancy. If I ever fell pregnant again, despite all precautions, I would, despite my wish for another child, have to have an abortion. I suppose the protesters would prefer me to continue with such a pregnancy and leave my 2 existing children motherless.

Yes, absolutely.

Yes, I support this.

Why do you think you have some "right" to do something without another person criticizing it? You definitely have a right to do it without being HARASSED but that's not the same thing. As long as the people dishing out the criticism do not break any laws, they don't make threats towards you or attack you or something, they are just as entitled to be there and have their voice heard as you are to be there. I agree with a womans right to chose whether to have an abortion or not, so it's a case of "I disagree with what you say but will defend your right to say it" to the anti abortion people. It's surely an example of democracy in action. This person can come up to you and criticize what you are doing, say why they are against it, and not fear being locked up for it. No matter what you believe in or do, there's always going to be someone else who disagrees with it. There is a clear difference between someone coming to an anti abortion clinic and protesting, making their voice heard to people having an abortion, and people coming to an anti abortion clinic and harassing the women/threatening them.

LurcioAgain you are completely entitled to have your views about me and again it's a case of "I disagree with what you say but defend your right to say it". Thankfully I'm not one of the types who think that criticism directed my way = harassment, and am not demanding a "buffer zone" to block someone challenging me about something.

NeedsAsockamnesty that's very sad, sorry to hear about that.

Yes HQ, please support this. Just horrible it's been allowed to go on for so long.

islandmama we are not talking about people being murdered on their way to clinics, we are talking about PEACEFUL anti abortion protests held outside clinics.

Yes I support this. Women should have the right to access legal medical services without feeling intimidated or harassed. They should also have a right to privacy which they don't get when they have to pass a mob making judgments about their healthcare choices.

I'm confused how Aduaz is so convinced these are completely peaceful protests.

The description given at the start of the thread sounds far from peaceful to me and must surely describe the majority of protests, I'm sure BPAS have far better things to do with their time than imagine the harassment, filming etc described I wonder just how many of these 'peaceful protests' Aduaz has actually bothered to go and observe before claiming they are totally fine and any woman having to walk past / through them should just suck it up.

The reason this legislation is being called for is because the people outside clinics are, on the whole, behaving in a vile manner and the police have said they have limited powers to stop them.

I support this campaign wholeheartedly

Aduaz - have you actually read this thread? Have you read the posts from women who have experienced the intimidation from these protesters?

Have you read all the posts where people agree that people have a right to protest about abortion?

No-one is saying that the anti-abortion brigade shouldn't be allowed to protest. But everyone (mostly) is saying that they shouldn't be allowed to harass or intimidate women using the clinics.

It

Aduaz thinks that women breast feeding in restaurants should have consideration for the fact he doesn't want to see them, but doesn't think abortion protestors should be kept apart from vulnerable women.

Ok dokes.

Yes support this. Every woman has the right to choose whether to continue with a pregnancy. Making the decision to abort a pregnancy is rarely an easy one and no- one should be made to feel guilty by a crowd of protesters who know nothing about the woman or her decision.

I was wondering quite why Aduaz was on Mumsnet, actually.