12 September 2024
Today marks 500 days since Parliament passed legislation to establish Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics. The law was supposed to shield women and healthcare staff from aggressive protests that obstruct access to essential medical care. Yet 500 days later, that promise remains unfulfilled.
Heidi Stewart, CEO of BPAS, said:
“Every day that passes without enforcing Safe Access Zones is another day that women are exposed to harassment, intimidation, and fear. We are past the point of waiting—this is a matter of protecting women's health and human rights.
“Scotland’s Safe Access Zones will come into force on 24 September, just 64 days after their law was passed. This will mean Scottish women seeking abortion care will have much-needed protection from the 40 Days for Life anti-abortion protests starting on 25 September, but women in England and Wales won’t be afforded such protection.
“The roots of this movement are firmly planted in the United States, where 40 Days for Life originated. Using tactics designed in the US, they have filmed women and staff outside clinics, and displayed graphic distressing posters. And their aggressive tactics are continuing to creep into our streets virtually unchecked.
“My question for the Home Secretary is – do we want to send a message to women in England and Wales that allowing US-backed, aggressive, intimidatory tactics when receiving healthcare is acceptable? Or do we want to take a stand and ensure all women across the UK - including our staff who work tirelessly to provide quality abortion care - are protected from stalking, harassment, intimidation and abuse?”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Georgina O’Reilly, BPAS Associate Director of Campaigns and Communications (maternity cover), on georgina.oreilly@bpas.org or 07384 891886.
About BPAS
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service, BPAS, is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain.
BPAS exists to further women’s reproductive choices. We believe all women should have the right to make their own decisions in and around pregnancy, from the contraception they use to avoid pregnancy right the way through to how they decide to feed their newborn baby, with access to evidence-based information to underpin their choices and high-quality services and support to exercise them.
BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, CRRC. Through rigorous multidisciplinary research and impactful communication, the CRRC aims to inform policy, practice, and public discourse. You can find out more here.