Canada – How Provinces are using a decades-old legal tool to create hospital “bubble zones”

By Emily Chan, Canadian Civil Liberties Assoc.
April 14, 2022

In 1995, British Columbia became the first province in Canada to introduce a law creating “safe access zones” – commonly called “bubble zones” – around facilities related to providing abortion services.

Nearly three decades later, provinces are drawing from the same toolbox to create bubble zones around other healthcare facilities, following widespread protests against COVID-19 safety measures.

In light of these developments, here is a look at what bubble zones are, how they originated, and why there’s renewed interest in them today.

Continued: https://ccla.org/get-informed/talk-rights/how-provinces-are-using-a-decades-old-legal-tool-to-create-hospital-bubble-zones/

14.04.2022

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Ireland – Explainer: What could Ireland’s abortion exclusion zones look like?

Explainer: What could Ireland's abortion exclusion zones look like?
The government aims to have draft legislation in place by the summer.

Feb 23, 2019

FOLLOWING A SERIES of anti-abortion protests since Ireland’s termination of pregnancy legislation came into effect on 1 January, the issue of exclusion zones around clinics and GP practices has become a pressing issue.

On 3 January, two days after abortion services became legal in the state, a group of pro-life protesters picketed a GP practice in Galway.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/explainer-what-could-irelands-abortion-exclusion-zones-look-like-4501125-Feb2019/

Canada: Make abortion clinic ‘bubble zones’ larger, advocates tell Ontario’s AG

Make abortion clinic 'bubble zones' larger, advocates tell Ontario's AG

'Protests should take place a safe distance from where patients are seeking healthcare,' letter says

By Kate Bueckert, CBC News
Posted: Aug 02, 2017

A letter calling on the province to keep protesters 150 metres away from abortion clinics and health care providers who provide abortion services has been signed by eight reproductive rights advocacy groups, including one from Kitchener.

Lyndsey Butcher, executive director of the Shore Centre — formerly Planned Parenthood — said new legislation being drafted by Attorney General Yasir Naqvi is based on laws in other provinces, which mandate protesters must stay 50 metres away.

Continued at source: CBC http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/abortion-clinics-bubble-zones-lyndsey-butcher-1.4232561

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

17.11.2016