Scotland – Abortion clinic buffer zone law needed ‘quickly’ – Gray

BBC
Feb 14, 2024

A law to ensure buffer zones around abortion clinics is needed "quickly", the health secretary has said.

Neil Gray described protests from anti abortion groups outside medical facilities as "unacceptable". Mr Gray was speaking at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, one of several sites targeted by the 40 Days for Life pro-life group.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-68296988


Scotland – Buffer zones required outside abortion clinics to stop women suffering

It is time for the Scottish Government to approve the legislation for legally enforced zones, says Record View.

5 Feb 2024

The legalisation of abortion in the UK in 1967 was a landmark moment.

It marked the culmination of decades of campaigning and allowed women to undergo the procedure through the NHS.

It ended the need for people to rely on unregulated and often dangerous private practitioners.

Continued: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/buffer-zones-required-outside-abortion-32046188


Public consultation begins in Scotland over buffer zone outside abortion clinics to block ‘harassment’ of women

Green MSP Gillian Mackay who has said the days of women facing "harassment" when seeking an abortion are "coming to an end."

MATT KERR
OCTOBER 27, 2023

PROPOSALS for a buffer zone around abortion services in Scotland will now go out to formal public consultation, it was announced today.

It marks the latest step for the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Green MSP Gillian Mackay, which would effectively ban protests within 200 metres of abortion facilities with unlimited fines for “serious breaches.”

Continued: https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/public-consultation-begins-scotland-over-buffer-zone-outside-abortion-clinics-block


Scotland – Bill to create buffer zones to stop anti-abortion groups protesting outside medical facilities backed by north MSP

By Gordon Calder
12 October 2023

A NORTH MSP has given her backing to a bill which would create buffer zones to stop anti-abortion groups from protesting outside medical centres.

Ariane Burgess, the Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has welcomed the publication of the bill to introduce safe access zones. The proposal comes from her party colleague Gillian Mackay.

Continued: https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/bill-to-create-buffer-zones-to-stop-anti-abortion-groups-pro-329556/


Bill to ban protests at Scottish abortion centres published

Oct 6, 2023

A bill designed to stop protests outside Scotland's abortion clinics has been published at Holyrood. Green MSP Gillian Mackay's bill would set up "buffer zones" around the facilities, preventing people from gathering nearby.

It is likely to have cross-party support and is being backed by the Scottish government. Anti-abortion campaigners from the USA have said they will challenge any such law in the courts.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67021626


Anger at speed of progress on buffer zones at abortion clinics

Sept 27, 2023
By Craig Williams, BBC Scotland

Pro-choice activists are calling on MSPs to speed up the creation of buffer zones around Scotland's abortion clinics.

The Scottish government is backing a bill which would ban anti-abortion groups from gathering outside clinics.

But campaigners for buffer zones say Scotland is being left behind the rest of the UK.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-66889551


Scotland – Doctors warn about social media link to abortion rise

Sept 5, 2023
By Katie McEvinney, BBC Scotland news

Misinformation about contraception on social media may be contributing to Scotland's record high abortion figures, doctors have told the BBC.

The number of terminations carried out in Scotland rose by almost a fifth between 2021 and 2022. For the first time in 14 years, the number of 16 to 19-year-olds accessing abortion services also increased.

There are concerns this is being driven in part by false and misleading information on apps such as TikTok.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-66671765


‘I had to go to England for my abortion because Scotland told me no’

Since 2019, almost 300 women have travelled to England to receive healthcare they were unable to access in Scotland.

Hannah Brown
July 21, 2023

The number of women travelling from Scotland to England to receive later abortion care has increased by 55% in the past year, new figures show.

In 2021, the number of women travelling to England was 42 but in 2022, new figures from the British Pregnancy Advice Service (BPAS), seen exclusively by STV News, show this increased to 65.

Since 2019, 282 women have travelled from Scotland to England to attain the service.

Continued: https://news.stv.tv/scotland/hundreds-of-women-forced-to-travel-from-scotland-to-england-for-abortion-care


Abortion clinic ‘buffer zone’ bill lodged in Scottish Parliament

June 15, 2023

A bill designed to end protests outside abortion clinics has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament.

Green MSP Gillian Mackay has submitted the proposal, with the first vote expected in October.

The members' bill aims to create 150-metre (164 yard) "safe access" zones around facilities which carry out abortions and other health services.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65914694


Scotland – Anti-abortion group leader: Government has no duty to protect public’s feelings

June 04, 2023

The Scottish Government does not have a duty to protect the feelings of the public, the head of an anti-abortion group has said.

Shawn Carney, the co-founder and chief executive of 40 Days for Life, rejected accusations his group had harassed women attempting to access abortions.

Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay is expected to publish a widely supported Bill this month to establish buffer zones around abortion clinics, which is expected to pass Holyrood without issue.

Continued: https://kalkinemedia.com/au/news/general-news/anti-abortion-group-leader-government-has-no-duty-to-protect-publics-feelings