Four protesters, three women, and one man were silently praying outside an abortion clinic in south London as I arrived at the scene. They held a picture of the Virgin Mary draped in beads and did not wish to be interrupted. It’s become customary to see protesters outside abortion clinics, standing with signs that at times show graphic images of fetuses, which can be upsetting or worrying, particularly for the women visiting the clinic who can occasionally be approached. The situation applies to health care staff working at the clinics too.
Starting Thursday, a new law aimed at safeguarding women who access pregnancy termination services comes into effect. It will be illegal to influence, provoke or harass anyone using or administering abortion services within a radius of 492ft of any clinic in England and Wales. Praying silently within the same zone is also illegal. The legislation is aimed at putting homes to stronger safeguards and is passionately debated by abortion campaigners and those seeking to protect freedom of speech. Northern Ireland implemented similar bans in 2023 and Scotland in September.
In contrast to America and other countries, Britain does not consider abortion a key issue during general and local elections. However, the numbers of abortions done in England and Wales rose to 251,377 in 2022, marking the highest since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967, an increase of 17% over the previous year.
According to the National Centre for Social Research’s most recent social attitudes study, support for abortion has increased. The study shows that three-quarters of people surveyed in 2022 support a woman’s right to have an abortion because she doesn’t want a child, up from 37% in 1983. The figure rises to 89% when there is a strong likelihood of the baby having a significant health condition, and 95% when the woman’s health is in severe danger due to the pregnancy. The survey showed that 72% believe that the couple can’t afford any more children, and 68% when the woman is single and doesn’t wish to get married.
The introduction of the buffer zones is welcomed by Ailish McEntee, the midwife in charge of safeguarding adults and children at MSI Reproductive Choices. One of the country’s largest abortion providers tells the BBC that she has had to calm women down who’ve been stopped or harassed by protesters on their way in for an appointment. The introduction of the zones is essential as women shouldn’t have to deal with protest, shaming, dissent, or argument on their way to receive healthcare. Yet some protests are allowed in the country, and it is an issue of free speech. In contrast, Richard, one of the protesters, disagrees and says that praying silently is not an act of aggression, and the protest’s perceived intimidating nature may stem from certain images, possibly from outside of Britain. As the two men I interviewed suggest, it remains unclear whether they will continue to show up, but further away, or not show up at all, now that the legislation is effective
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
