Nineteen family planning centres and nursing associations have joined today in calling for ‘buffer zones’ outside UK abortion clinics (or, perhaps more politely, family planning centres) so that women attending them are safe from being ‘intimidated and distressed’ by anti-choice activists.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is the leading provider of abortions in the UK and says there has been an increase in the number of protests outside clinics. Women are not only being intimidated but there are allegedly threats to disclose their anonymity (under British law you’re entitled to anonymous healthcare).
Not only have protestors filmed women going into BPAS-approved clinics, but the’ve tried to listen to door buzzers to get their names.
The big problem is, when you’re a woman who’s got an unwanted pregnancy, you neither have the time nor perhaps the confidence to speak to the police. Right at that time, do you really want to consider a future where you have to speak about that very moment in a courtroom full of people? But in some places, such as Richmond, these protests are happening daily. Even staff are feeling threatened.
BPAS is joined by the Royal College of Midwives, Marie Stopes International and the End Violence Against Women Coalition to launch the Back Off campaign. In this, they’re calling on the Government to introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics. These are areas where people will not be allowed to protest, and some jurisdictions of the USA and Canada already have them.
Ann Furedi, chief executive of BPAS, said buffer zones are necessary because: ‘Women arriving at clinics aren’t coming for a debate. They are coming to access a confidential medical service, and should be left alone.
‘There is absolutely no need for the space outside clinics to become a battleground. Wherever one stands on abortion – pregnant women deserve better than this.’
However, the Home Office’s statement, reported in The Independent today, leads us to thinking they’re going to use that old mantra of free speech to let this sort of intimidation continue: ‘Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society, provided it is conducted within the law.’
It continues: ‘But protesters’ rights need to be balanced with the rights of others to go about their business without fear of intimidation or serious disruption to the community. Rights to peaceful protest do not extend to threatening behaviour and the police have powers to deal with any such acts.’
So what now? Maybe family planning clinics need to install those alarms which send a message straight to the police, like the ones they have in banks (at what cost?).
Or maybe more women’s rights activists need to take time out of their day to help escort pregnant women to family planning clinics, so they feel a little solidarity (at what cost?).
Or maybe, just maybe, the Government needs to step up a bit and just say, you know, if you’re protesting against a woman’s right to her own body under the guise of being ‘pro-life’, get a life.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.