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a clinic is located have felt so intimidated by the presence outside they have asked for the abortion service to be withdrawn.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

Have you advanced searched me at all therealwildone?

Wildeone - this thread is not about you. We don't care about who you are, your religion, or anything else.

Sorry about that - go and read Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy or something. Get some perspective about your place in the Universe.

oh look our talk guidelines

Hello Olivia!

well, if he really is Legion, he still owes Dh for producing their last EP.....

Anyway, it all goes to bolster the original premise of the thread - that women going about their lawful business do occasionally encounter goady little fuckers who'd like to prevent them from doing so, & it's probably necessary to discourage said GLFs by removing them from where they're causing a nuisance.

I realise that this thread is currently taking its own magical mystery tour thanks to a poster who, quite frankly, I'm not going to respond to after the rape thread.

But I'd like to say that I support this wholeheartedly. I support the right of free speech. I support the right of protest. But people who stand outside abortion clinics filming women, thrusting photos at them, yelling abusive slogans, those people are not interested in a protest. They are interested in intimidation. Women deserve the right to access healthcare services without a horribly difficult time being made intolerably worse.

Yes.

Judge not lest you be judged.

therealwildeone:
does a screenname define a person?! i was using a 'royal' pronoun...in simple terms, 'I' refers to a collective group. and we are legion.
let me rephrase...
we have always been here
we will always be here
and we are legion

you are your posts make you sound like a pretentious, ridiculous and utterly pathetic twat

Oh, and I'm one of the highest earners in my company, just to let you know!

*sorry Olivia

If I'd brought up an 'ordinary' male who held the views of realwild et al I'd be ashamed. Deeply ashamed and wondering what I'd done wrong.

Yes, please support this campaign.

Wildey's out with the old trouble and strife now- the little lady takes simply hours to get ready, (and obvs gets paid a lot less than him, because she is but a weak and feeble woman) or been banned

I wonder which?

Glad you said yes.

Yes. Abortion must always be an option.

Absolutely support this campaign.

Feminism is disgusting?

Proud to be a very disgusting woman then.

On topic: I have mailed my MP and shared on social media. I do hope this campaign is effective.

I am very pleased that MN has chosen to support this campaign. I agree 100% with its aims and hope it achieves some success in protecting vulnerable women from the disgusting harassment described in the op and by a number of posters on this thread.

Absolutely, Mumsnet will grow in my estimation if they support this. When I was at University (20 years ago) I was aggressively stopped while shopping by a group of anti abortionists who were mainly men. Although the issue didn't apply to me directly as a women I felt intimidated and realised how distressing it would be for a woman seeking an abortion to be challenged in this way.

I completely support this campaign. Well done MNHQ.

For those saying that laws exist already, actually specific rules should be introduced to deal with these particular circumstances. These should spell out: large buffer zones, specifying restriction of protests when it comes to individuals accessing health services or employed in particular treatments.

the issue as i understood it is that harassment laws generally require several incidents - the 'protestors' are regularly harassing but harassing different people so no individual can claim harassment (even if they were in a position to be calling the police whilst accessing, then recovering from surgery for example).

Yes, please support. Abortion is a right.

Haven't read the full thread. But please, please support this campaign. Also, tell them to start an online petition! I've written to my MP, but people like to take quick action. A lot more people would support this if there was a 'Change' petition I think.
I wish BPAS success with this.

TheRealWildOne

Sorry, only just seen your Q to me re 'what is a facist?' Context was my post of just being really and faintly speechless at someone referring to us ('us' being the immense majority here who support the campaign in question) as 'fascists' and was directly in response to this one from a poster called totswilde (who incidentally hasn't replied - funny that huh? )

totswilde Sat 29-Nov-14 15:22:01

'and btw (since some fascists on here are purposely muddying the water), it is already illegal to 'grab at people', to 'scream in their faces', and to cause alarm/fear i general on public streets.
we need the police to enforce our current laws, as opposed to inventing more laws to step on our freedom.'

Definition of facist/fascism:

an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
(in general use) extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practices.

I was just staggered that someone like me who is about as far from the description above as you can get (likewise most of the posters above from my experience of their posts) were being referred to as 'facists' simply for supporting this. Am still gobsmacked TBH. In an ideal world I/we wouldn't even to bloody supprt it as it wouldn't be necessary - unfortunately the twattery that exists means it is tho but to be called 'facists' for doing so just takes the proverbial

Munning - I agree with what you've said, and I don't think anyone other than a complete weirdo out to try to provoke for the hell of it (pretty much the definition of a troll) would try to argue this thread is the thin end of the wedge leading to fascism. If it's any consolation I think the ban hammer has been wielded on some of our more obvious trolly visitors.

Romann abortion isn't a right in law in all circumstances sadly, even in the UK, and in NI which is part of the UK restrictions are very tight indeed.

I would also support campaigns to make abortion a right for women and girls everywhere