Isle of Man – Abortion Reform Bill 2018 passed unanimously by the House of Keys today with three minor amendments

Abortion Reform Bill 2018 passed unanimously by the House of Keys today with three minor amendments

30 October 2018
For immediate release

CALM [Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation] is delighted that the House of Keys has voted to pass Dr Alex Allinson MHK’s Abortion Reform Bill 2018, and that once the three new amendments agreed today are passed by the Legislative Council, it will now be set before the Court of Tynwald for signing.

Today’s sitting (Tuesday 30 October) confirmed that the Isle of Man’s politicians agree that the current legislation is out of date, restrictive and discriminatory and that the Island’s women deserve better.

“CALM is proud that the Isle of Man is leading the way, and will be the first jurisdiction in the British Isles to decriminalise abortion, meaning that those who choose to terminate a pregnancy for whatever reason will no longer be seen as criminals. They will also be able to choose to access full reproductive healthcare at home, and no longer have to travel to clinics across,” says CALM.

Buffer zones around places which provide abortion services will also be possible once this Bill is enacted.

“The public consultation in 2017 showed that the vast majority of respondents wanted some provision for buffer or access zones, and our politicians listened,” continues CALM. “Provisions in this Bill mean that people seeking abortions, or even those wanting to access counselling, will not be subjected to pressure from those who only want to frighten women or make them uncomfortable about any decision they’ve made, or
which they might make.”

Following today’s House of Key’s sitting, CALM would like to thank all those who have worked tirelessly on the Abortion Reform Bill, particular Dr Allinson MHK, seconder Clare Bettison MHK, Ralph Peake MHK for adding the provision of access zones to the original draft, the Attorney General, the legal drafters and all those MHKs and MLCs who have tabled amendments which have made the final Bill better for all those who believe that women in theIsle of Man should be able to access safe, legal and most of all LOCAL abortion services.

"We'd also like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign, all those who wrote to the prospective MHKs before the last election and since, and those who've told their own stories publically for the first time," says CALM. "We know that women who've had abortions, for whatever reason, have been stigmatised and ignored for too long, and we're proud that our campaign has helped to make this a thing of the past."

CALM: http://calmiom.org/


Isle of Man: Bishop’s witnesses begin their evidence in abortion debate

Bishop's witnesses begin their evidence in abortion debate

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Witnesses called by Bishop Peter Eagles to support his arguments against aspects of the Abortion Reform Bill began their evidence this morning.

The Bishop, who is also set to table a series of amendments to the Abortion Reform Bill at the clauses stage, warned that unless he could be persuaded otherwise, he would vote against the second reading of the bill.

He called three witnesses to go before the Legislative Council today.

Continued: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=41159&headline=Bishop%27s%20witnesses%20begin%20their%20evidence%20in%20abortion%20debate&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2018


Isle of Man – Abortion: Adjourn attempt is defeated

Abortion: Adjourn attempt is defeated

Saturday, 28 April 2018 - Politics
by A Reporter

An attempt to delay this week’s debate on the Abortion Reform Bill was thwarted by MHKs.

Alfred Cannan (Ayre and Michael) made a surprise move to adjourn the debate for seven days, expressing concern that Attorney General John Quinn had not been asked to give his view on the implications of the bill, particularly new elements such as access zone clauses.

Continued: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=40100&headline=Abortion:%20Adjourn%20attempt%20is%20defeated&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2018


Isle of Man – Allinson consults on abortion reform bill clause

Allinson consults on abortion reform bill clause

Wednesday, 21 February 2018
By A Reporter in Politics

The MHK steering abortion reform proposals through the House of Keys is consulting with a UK expert to see if one of the clauses needs to be re-worded.

During last week’s House of Keys, it was suggested that the wording of clauses covering when an abortion would be permitted after 24 weeks might need to match the UK law, if that was to be where most such procedures would be carried out.

Continued: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=38735&headline=Allinson%20consults%20on%20abortion%20reform%20bill&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2018


Isle of Man: Anti-reform group seize upon phone poll results on abortion issue

Anti-reform group seize upon phone poll results on abortion issue

Wednesday, 21 February 2018
By A Reporter in Health

Campaigners fighting plans to reform the island’s abortion law have seized on the findings of a poll that they believe undermine the results of an earlier government consultation.

Anti-reform group CARE paid for UK research company ComRes to conduct a telephone poll into the issue. The questions were compiled by ComRes and former GP Graham McAll, who has campaigned against abortion reform.

Continued: http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=38762&headline=ComRes%20abortion%20research%20results&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2018


Abortion bill to go before House of Keys in January, MHK says

Ellan Vannin
Nov 16, 2017

The final draft of a bill proposing reforms to the Isle of Man's abortion law will be presented to the government in January, an MHK has said.

Dr Alex Allinson has spent 11 months working on the Abortion Reform Bill 2017, which was heavily backed in a recent public consultation.

The Ramsey MHK said he would meet with legal experts to discuss changes ahead of it going before the House of Keys.

Continued at source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-41996396


Isle of Man abortion law reform backed by public

Isle of Man abortion law reform backed by public

24 October 2017

Ellan Vannin

Plans to reform Manx abortion law so that pregnant women can request a termination up to 14 weeks have been backed by the public in a consultation. The majority of the 3,644 who responded agreed with the draft Abortion Reform Bill 2017 which would also see restrictions relaxed after 14 weeks.

Terminations can only be carried out if a pregnancy is the result of rape or because of mental health concerns. The Abortion Bill is due to be debated in Tynwald in the near future.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-41736830


Isle of Man: Sex selection not part of abortion reforms

Sex selection not part of abortion reforms

Sunday, September 3rd, 2017

Debate continues over termination criteria

A new legal query has been thrown up in the ongoing public debate over reform of the Island's abortion laws.

Responders to a public consultation have asked whether or not abortion could be prompted by sex selection requests.

Continued at source: Manx Radio: http://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/sex-selection-not-part-of-reforms/


Isle of Man: CALM: Video highlights abortion plight of Isle of Man women

CALM: Video highlights abortion plight of Isle of Man women
by LC
Aug 22, 2017

Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM) is proud to present a YouTube video about the difficulties Isle of Man women face having to travel off-Island for terminations.

A Freedom Seeker Production by Kara Varetto, this short film features the real stories of Island women, voiced by actresses.

https://youtu.be/d5xZjJY16uo

Continued at source: http://www.isleofman.com/News/details/83794/calm-video-highlights-abortion-plight-of-isle-of-man-women


Isle of Man: Statement from Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM)

Statement from Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM)
August 7, 2017, by LC

The Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM) is delighted that Dr Alex Allinson MHK's draft Abortion Reform Bill was published today, and that the public consultation is now underway.

Throughout our campaign we have emphasised the need for abortions to be available on the Island, particularly in the earliest stages of pregnancy, to avoid woman having to travel across at their own expense resulting in later, more invasive and more expensive procedures.

CALM is also pleased that the need for counselling has been given special mention in the draft legislation.

Our key message now is: reply to this consultation with your views.

"We know CALM's pro-choice message has been heard loud and clear across the Isle of Man," says CALM's Samantha Morris, "and now is your chance to have your say. Please read the draft Bill and respond to the consultation. It's not very long and it's not very complicated, but it really will help to form a unique piece of legislation written to meet the needs of the Island's women. If you don't respond, then you don't have a voice."

The draft Abortion Reform Bill and consultation can be found at: https://consult.gov.im/office-of-the-clerk-of-tynwald/abortion-reform-bill-2017/

Source: Manx.net: https://www.manx.net/isle-of-man-news/83681/statement-from-campaign-for-abortion-law-modernisation-calm-