UK: Queen’s Medical Centre ban plea over anti-abortion group

Queen's Medical Centre ban plea over anti-abortion group

March 7, 2017
Legal powers should be used to remove anti-abortion campaigners from the grounds of a hospital in Nottingham, a pro-choice group has said.

Forty Days for Life has been holding a "vigil" at the Queen's Medical Centre, where abortions take place.

Nottingham Pro Choice said their presence near the hospital's treatment centre is "intimidating" to women.

Continued at source: BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-39190057


Australia: Qld opposition blocks abortion bills

Qld opposition blocks abortion bills
February 27, 2017
Stuart Layt
Australian Associated Press

Queensland's Liberal National Party opposition will not support the second of a pair of bills reforming abortion law in the state.

The two bills, introduced by independent MP Rob Pyne, look to reform the criminal code to remove abortion as on offence, however concerns have been raised that if only one is passed it could leave women and their doctors in legal limbo.

Opposition leader Tim Nicholls said in a statement every one of his MPs decided not to support the second bill during a party room meeting on Monday.

Continued at source: News.com.au: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/qld-opposition-blocks-abortion-bills/news-story/e309d5be61652f0b11bee72d83dcea05


Queensland MPs answer how they will vote on abortion bills

Queensland MPs answer how they will vote on abortion bills
Felicity Caldwell
17 Feb 2017

The debate over whether to decriminalise abortion in Queensland is set to divide the Parliament.

With debate on the issue to be held next month, Fairfax Media asked all 89 MPs in Queensland how they would vote.

While some members came out strongly in support or against any change to the abortion laws, others were more coy on their personal opinions.

Continued at source: Beau Desert Times: http://www.beaudeserttimes.com.au/story/4474175/queensland-mps-answer-how-they-will-vote-on-abortion-bills/?cs=7


Australia: NT govt to introduce abortion bill

NT govt to introduce abortion bill
February 14, 2017
Lucy Hughes Jones
Australian Associated Press

New laws to decriminalise medical abortions will be introduced to the Northern Territory parliament this week.

Using the RU486 pregnancy termination pill is still a crime in the NT and abortions can currently only be performed surgically in a hospital.

"Northern Territory women should have the same access to termination of pregnancy as women in the rest of Australia," Leader of Government Business Natasha Fyles said.

Continued at source: News.com.au: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/nt-govt-to-introduce-abortion-bill/news-story/7a9e5a549ad66669961ec92d9e6c52cf


Canada: ‘I don’t care about the political fallout:’ N.L. justice minister vows to provide better abortion access

Legislation would keep protesters 50 metres from any clinic, 160 metres from doctors' homes

By Ryan Cooke, Mark Quinn, CBC News
Nov 17, 2016

Proposed legislation that aims to protect people seeking abortions and the people who provide them is making its way through Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly.

The Access to Abortion Services Act would prohibit protesters from demonstrating, carrying signs or trying to dissuade women from getting abortions outside abortion clinics, doctors' homes and their offices.

[continued at link]
Source: CBC.ca


New Zealand: Abortion ‘no-protest zone’ suggested

Pro-choice supporters demonstrated next to the weekly pro-life protesters outside Thames Hospital. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Tuesday, 16 August 2016
The New Zealand Herald

By Sarah Harris, Claire Trevett

Green MP Jan Logie says it is worth debating whether New Zealand should introduce a no-protest zone around abortion clinics, similar to those enforced in some Australian states.

Logie and Catherine Delahunty recently attended a meeting in Thames organised by people concerned about anti-abortion protesters who protest outside the Thames Hospital abortion clinic on Fridays.

After the meeting, Right to Life put out a statement saying the Greens would try to push for a law change which banned protesting outside abortion clinics, like some Australian states.

[continued at link]
Source: New Zealand Herald


Australia: Bill to legalise abortion introduced to NSW parliament

Mehreen Faruqi said she was heartened by support from legal academics for her bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW. Photograph: Chris James/AAP

Greens upper house member Mehreen Faruqi says law should reflect that women seeking abortions and doctors performing them are not criminals

by Bridie Jabour

Thursday 11 August 2016 04.23 BST

More than 100 academics have called on the New South Wales government to take abortion off the criminal code as Greens upper house member Mehreen Faruqi prepares to introduce the legislation.

Law and criminology academics from across the state have signed a letter saying it is time to decriminalise abortion and calling for privacy zones to be introduced around abortion service providers and clinics.

Luke McNamara, the University of New South Wales law professor who organised the letter, said criminal law should be kept in line with community expectations.

“In this context social values have changed, this is widely recognised, maybe not universally recognised, it’s appropriate for a woman to have the right to choose an abortion, and criminal law should not be inconsistent with that basic principle,” he said.

Source: The Guardian