The Home Affairs Committee investigating harassment and intimidation near abortion clinics heard evidence that anti-choice protesters have blocked women from accessing abortion clinics and threatened staff. Humanists UK supports the Back Off campaign, coordinated by British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), which aims to change the law to make it possible to establish protest-free zones around abortion clinics. The campaign is necessary due to an intensification of anti-abortion protests around clinics, including activists displaying distressing images, filming people entering and leaving clinics, and physically touching women, as well as shouting abuse.
In an oral hearing held today, Clare Murphy, Director of External Affairs at BPAS and John Hansen-Brevetti, Clinical Operations Manager at Marie Stopes UK, described incidents where anti-choice protesters outside of abortion clinics have collaborated with abusive and coercive partners to prevent women from accessing clinics and of women who felt so intimidated by protesters that they refused to exit the clinic even during fire alarms. Hansen-Brevetti also presented evidence that staff at clinics have been the victims of vandalism and been sent threatening messages by protesters.
The hearing also heard from Ealing Councillors Julian Bell and Binda Rai, who stated that current police powers and laws on harassment are inadequate to protect women in these incidents and that national measures are needed to address this problem. Ealing Council last month voted to support the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to prevent protesters from blocking women from accessing a Marie Stopes clinic in the area.
Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented, ‘We are pleased that the Home Affairs Committee is considering the range of options, including PSPOs and national legislation to address the problem of harassment outside abortion clinics. Although we recognise the right of protest, women should not be intimidated when accessing legal medical services. The intensification of protests in recent years has highlighted the inadequacy of current measures to ensure the physical and emotional safety of women at a time of potential vulnerability and distress.’
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For further comment or information contact Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at richy@humanists.uk or 020 7324 3072.
Read more about the Back Off campaign: https://back-off.org/
Read Humanists UK’s previous news item ‘Ealing Council introduces pioneering measure to protect women from harassment outside abortion clinics’: https://humanists.uk/2017/10/13/ealing-council-introduces-pioneering-measure-to-protect-women-from-harassment-outside-abortion-clinics/
Read more about Humanists UK’s campaigns work on abortion: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/sexual-and-reproductive-rights/
At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.
Humanists UK recently changed its name from the British Humanist Association: https://humanists.uk/2017/05/22/bha-becomes-humanists-uk/