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.

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Source: CBC.ca


Australia: Abortion law overhaul pegged for Northern Territory

JILL POULSEN, NT News
October 9, 2016 4:04pm

RIGHT-to-life protesters could soon be banned from going near women accessing abortion services in the Territory.
New Health Minister and Attorney-General Natasha Fyles told the NT Newsshe hoped to have laws passed by next year that would allow women to access medical abortion drug RU486.

The Northern Territory remains the only jurisdiction in Australia to not legalise medical abortion.

Ms Fyles said she had a formal briefing on the issue with the Department of Health and had met with lobby group WHAT RU 4NT? in preparation for drafting a “contemporary piece of legislation” aimed at supporting Territory women.

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Source: The Courier Mail


Australia: Greens candidate for Albury Council flags loitering laws as a method to halt pro-life supporters who gather outside abortion clinic

Anthony Bunn
30 Aug 2016, 12:05 p.m.
The Border Mail

LOITERING laws should be explored to tackle those who rally outside Albury’s abortion clinic, a Greens council candidate believes.

Amanda Cohn believes the Albury Council needs to “use any legal means available to protect patients attending the clinic”.

Greens MLC Mehreen Faruqi has an abortion law reform bill before the NSW Parliament which proposes “exclusion zones” be created within 150 metres of abortion clinics.

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Source: The Border Mail


Canada: ‘Great relief’: Anti-abortion protesters respecting new ban outside clinic

Rolanda Ryan says she's grateful that protesters are respecting their agreement and staying outside the 40-metre "bubble zone." (CBC)

Clinic owner still pushing for provincial legislation

By Laura Howells, CBC News Posted: Jul 14, 2016 1:43 PM NT

Rolanda Ryan, owner of the Athena Health Centre, says a lot of tension has disappeared from her building since the ruling in June.

"It just feels lighter in here. It's been fabulous," she said.

"It's the way it should be."

Ryan and her lawyer Lynn Moore reached an agreement with anti-abortion protesters in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador on June 28. An injunction bans protests within a 40-metre radius of the clinic, as well as in front of staff members' homes.

While the protesters still come, so far they've stayed outside the new "bubble zone."

People now holding anti-abortion signs on the street corner in front of the abandoned Grace Hospital, at least 100 metres away from the clinic.

'Could have been worse' say protesters

"For now this works for us. It's a good corner and there's no businesses around that may find it offensive," said Colette  Fleming, a frequent anti-abortion protester in the area.

"It's very important to us that we still proclaim the pro-life message."

Fleming says she and others will still come out at least twice a week, regardless of how far away they have to stand from the clinic.

She says they will be measuring out the exact 40-metre distance so they can eventually move closer.

Fleming said the 40 metre ban "could have been much worse."

If they had enough money, Fleming said they probably would have challenged the Supreme Court ruling.

However, she said, they already spent roughly $5,500 on court fees, some of which was supplied through private donations.

'A lot of gratitude'

Ryan said she's grateful the protesters are respecting the injunction, as it makes life much easier for her patients.

In the past, Ryan said protesters "intimidated" patients with graphic signs and took photos of people going in and out.

"There's great relief and there's a lot of gratitude and appreciation for not having to encounter that now," she said.

Still pushing for law

Ryan said she's still pushing for a provincial law banning protests outside abortion clinics.

Justice Minister Andrew Parsons said he supports the idea and hopes to table legislation this fall.

Athena Health Centre, Clinic

There are no longer any anti-abortion protesters outside this clinic in St. John's. (CBC)

"We're still anxious to have that passed because it just gives the law enforcement a little bit more clout to deal with it if anybody does breach that bubble zone," Ryan told CBC.

British Columbia has had a similar "bubble zone" law has in place for several years.

Source: CBC News