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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

BPAS have resurrected the Back Off campaign.

50 replies

Thelnebriati · 13/02/2020 16:57

BPAS say ''38 hospitals, GP surgeries, and clinics in England and Wales have experienced anti-abortion protest activity in the last 18 months. 8 of these protests are completely new''

''Protests are increasing outside abortion clinics, and protesters are actively harassing women who try to enter or leave.''
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/08/calls-for-exclusion-zones-outside-uk-abortion-clinics-amid-protests

BPAS have already won this battle once but the decision to place buffer zones outside abortion clinics was overturned by Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

OP posts:
OhHolyJesus · 14/02/2020 10:16

I'm really pleased to hear this news.

Been there done that. Leave these women alone.

ChattyLion · 14/02/2020 12:27

..pour energy into making sure there is a change in culture and support for women do that those for whom having a child is not truly unthinkable, but they just need specific support, receive that support.

Pro life groups that campaign for that kind of support, be it adequate counselling, or political changes so that women are safe from abuse and ok financially or able to continue study, have my support. I think that's an appropriate perspective if you claim to be pro-woman and pro-life.

They have my utmost support and respect for doing that work too. Eg Life used to give out useful mother and baby packs of kit and even used to run residential places for women who needed help in pregnancy or early days of motherhood. Brilliant, practical woman-friendly stuff (when offered with no strings) to women who need it.

There is unlimited unbiased informed free counselling on offer though, at abortion providers. They have to be registered to offer that service with the government and I am wary that ‘pro life’ campaigns have previously sought to undermine the trust in their integrity because the anti-choice groups didn’t like the message of choice and information offered there. But anyway, just wanted to agree with your point.

FloralBunting · 14/02/2020 18:01

Oh, we're definitely in agreement - I've seen some shockingly cavalier attitudes in pro life circles, sometimes there is astounding naivete about how to approach vulnerable women, which is obviously fine tuned to a ludicrous degree by the vigils outside clinics.

Thelnebriati · 15/02/2020 11:27

Quick bump for the weekend.

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NatyoCheese · 15/02/2020 12:18

Sent to my MP, thanks for bringing this up.

Dozer · 15/02/2020 14:35

A friend has posted on FB about protests outside a clinic near her. Why haven’t they done the “buffer zones” yet?

NearlyGranny · 15/02/2020 23:19

Yes, freedom to assemble and protest is not freedom to intrude and intimidate. Parents protesting No Outsiders, for example, were not free to take their protest into classrooms or onto school playgrounds and frighten the children.

Thelnebriati · 16/02/2020 01:27

Dozer There was enough support for buffer zones to have them approved, but that was overturned in a unilateral decision by Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
He said such protest-free areas around clinics in England and Wales "would not be a proportionate response".
www.bbc.com/news/uk-45509202

OP posts:
Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 16/02/2020 03:37

Thanks for posting this

NearlyGranny · 16/02/2020 08:15

Unless your organisation is simultaneously running a mother and baby hostel, to the highest standards, it had better step away from intimidating women at clinics.

Thelnebriati · 20/02/2020 09:40

Has anyone heard from their MP? So far mine has been too busy to respond.

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NatyoCheese · 24/02/2020 12:14

Heard back from mine, it’s long and rambles but he says he thinks the laws fine as it is, we don’t need buffer zones and people have the right to free speech and peaceful protest.

I knew he was a cock already so I’m not surprised.

refusetobeasheep · 24/02/2020 17:25

This back from mine:

Thank you for your email.

A women’s right to choose- and to privacy- is a fundamental right that must be protected by law.

I will support legislation to create buffer zones around clinics that provide abortion services.

Kind Regards,

Sarah Olney, MP for Richmond Park

EsmesRedPetticoat · 26/02/2020 23:58

Thank you for sharing this. I have emailed my MP. He is a Tory and new to my former Labour stronghold so I have no idea yet if I will get anything useful from him!

LittleBoyJuly2020 · 27/02/2020 00:05

Signed and sent

Babieseverywhere · 27/02/2020 05:34

Unless the protestors are willing to financially and emotionally parent these potential babies, who's parents can not raise for a number of reasons, then the protestors should keep their noses out of other peoples business.

Either take on the parenting role for these unborn children or leave the decision in the parents hands. Trying to emotionally blackmail women into giving birth to babies they know they can't look after is short sighted and cruel to both parent and child.

If you don't believe in abortions, then don't have any ! How any one can be so arrogant as to think they know they know better than the woman involved is breathtaking.

On a personal level I would not choose an abortion for myself but I trust that other women will make the right decision for themselves and I wish them well.

PreseaCombatir · 11/03/2020 18:25

I received a letter from my MP today. It’s very good, and says this is a ‘failure to uphold women’s rights to bodily autonomy’ and that she has written to the Home Secretary to ask the government to reconsider their decision, and she will let me know when she receives a reply to her enquiry.
I’m really impressed.

crankysaurus · 12/03/2020 06:57

Thank you, signed and sent to my MP. She's a decent one and probably will reread it and react.

Thelnebriati · 05/07/2020 17:41

Quick bump; the Back Off campaign is still running, and BPAS are asking for support for an amendment to the DV bill.

''Tell your MP to support an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill to decriminalise abortion and protect pregnant women in abusive relationships.

This amendment would decriminalise abortion, ensuring that victims can access safe legal services, and protect vulnerable women from criminalisation if they use abortion pills bought online. This amendment would also strengthen the law around non-consensual abortion, making it easier to prosecute violent partners who end a woman’s pregnancy without her consent.

The amendment is supported by a coalition of charities and medical bodies including Women’s Aid, the Royal College of Midwives, and the End Violence Against Women Coalition.''

wetrustwomen.uk/take-action/

OP posts:
ScrimpshawTheSecond · 05/07/2020 17:45

Thanks. Still amazes me that abortion is illegal.

SerenityNowwwww · 06/07/2020 08:55

Do they also protest outside clinics that carry out vasectomies, give out contraception... that’s the next step surely?

CherryPavlova · 06/07/2020 09:04

Whilst I think protests are extremely unkind, I think the laws and access need reform. Why in this day and age are we continuing to force doctors to breach their professional guidance by signing off abort certification for women and children they’ve never seen and why are women being forced to travel to distant clinics to take a tablet?

Most women think abortion is an on demand choice; it’s not under current laws. People are breaking the law daily; which is quite ridiculous.

The answer is profits - even for charities such as BPAS - and not wanting to upset the conservative predominantly pro-life House.

What is needed is reform of the 1967 Act to allow GPs, sexual health clinics and pharmacists to offer medical termination on demand. The risks are much lower than crossing the road. No need for the hidden away nonsense with two doctors signing agreement.

sultanasofa · 06/07/2020 13:09

There's also this good news from 24 June:

MPs just voted overwhelmingly in favour of banning protests outside abortion clinics

On 24 June, MPs voted in favour of a bill that would create buffer zones outside abortion clinics in England and Wales, preventing protesters from gathering outside. Here, Rupa Huq – the MP who introduced the bill – tells Stylist why it’s so important.

.....

On 24 June, MPs voted 213-47 in favour of the bill, which would give police powers to disperse people demonstrating anywhere within a set distance of abortion clinics, regardless of whether they are anti-choice activists or pro-choice counter-protesters. It will now progress to a second reading.

www.stylist.co.uk/life/abortion-clinics-buffer-zones-uk/401545

sultanasofa · 06/07/2020 13:14

Although this comment from a Home Office spokesperson (via the BBC) is less encouraging:

MPs voted to approve the bill at the first stage by 213 votes to 47, however unless it secures government support it is unlikely to become law.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The right to protest is a vital part of a democratic society, but it is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel harassed or intimidated, and we are clear we expect the police to take action in such cases.

"There are already powers in place for police and local authorities to restrict harmful protests and the previous home secretary (Sajid Javid) asked the police to work closely with abortion services, to ensure that all those visiting these services are not subjected to harassment or intimation."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53150759

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