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a clinic is located have felt so intimidated by the presence outside they have asked for the abortion service to be withdrawn.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

Yes

Bramwell - so sorry to hear about your dreadful ordeal as a teenager and I have enormous administration for you for bringing so much good from it. Your Ds sounds lovely. And your priest sounds terrific too.

Oops admiration. Bloomin autocomplete.

Pandabee11 why the hell not?

NormaStanleyFletcher they do protest to "the authorities" as you put it but the main target of their protest is the people having abortions. It's those people they want to put their message across to, so it would be foolish NOT to hold it at a clinic, when holding it at a clinic gets their message across easy to the target audience. Yes Jehovas should be allowed to protest outside blood donation centres provided it remains peaceful and they do not break any laws.

I would strongly support this

I strongly support this.

Absolutely YES

Yes

I'm so glad MNHQ is supporting this! Even (almost all) of the anti-abortionists on here see how wrong these disgusting people are to intimidate, bully and harass vulnerable women who have already made their choice. A wonderful campaign for MN, something we all agree on!

yep, the only person who seems to think it's ok to harass women outside abortion clinics is a man who thinks women breastfeeding in public is disgusting and is a raging rape apologist.

says it all really.

I absolutely support this!

You said it Honey, not me.

Another voice in support of this. Women should not be harassed at such a vulnerable time.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit, filming you and putting it on the internet doesn't count as harassment. Anyone has the right to film you in a public place and do what they like with the footage. Fair play anyone (myself included) would prefer they didn't but it's their legal right to do so and most certainly doesn't cross the border into harassment

Actually that is wrong. It does count as harassment if it is an action designed and used to intimidate or the victim perceives it as such.

Any action at all could be considered as harrasment such as standing on a public street filming and taking photos that sort of thing,the problem is that in the uk you usually have to follow a process that involves it actually happening before you can protect yourself from it.

Slightly off topic, but I remember Naomi Campbell receiving damages after being filmed accessing drug treatment, as she had the right to confidentiality. Surely pregnant women also have the right to medical privacy so how can filming them accessing treatment be allowed? You wouldn't be allowed to follow someone into a GP appointment with a camera so what is the difference here?

Aduaz you might want to have a read of this www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/stalking_and_harassment/ it's the cps guidelines on prosecution of harassment.

Late to the party but yes please support this MNHQ.

The buffer zones need to be meaningful though - in the US they are a pretty inadequate distance.

I am a Christian and would struggle with the idea of an abortion if I were in the position where I might seek one, but I think they absolutely have to be legal, safe and confidential.

They target women outside clinics with false information. They stand their shouting lies at women , trying to convince them that they know better than that individual woman, what choice to make about her pregnancy. That isn't protest.

I tell you what aduaz next time you need to access, say, treatment for an STI, we'll film you going into the clinic and spread it over the internet. Or is it only pregnant women who are denied privacy?

Yes yes yes, I had an abortion when I was younger and walking past the protestors was the most tramatic part of the experience.

Yes, absolutely, I support this 100%. I walked past one of these protests once - not on my way to a clinic, but on my way somewhere else that was near a clinic. It was truly shocking. I can't imagine how I would have felt if I'd been going into the clinic past these bullies. I felt very intimidated by the misogynistic language and behaviour, even though it wasn't directed at me. I don't believe they have any kind of 'right' to direct their protests towards people who are legally accessing medical care.

Absolutely support this MNHQ.

Another one putting her name forward as a supporter of this.