Northern Ireland – Abortion clinic buffer zones to start from Friday

Sept 25, 2023

Exclusion zones set up to block anti-abortion protests outside health clinics in Northern Ireland will be introduced on Friday. The "safe access zones," will be in areas across the five health trusts.

Legislation to set up the zones at clinics where abortions are carried out was passed at Stormont last year. The Department of Health said they are to "protect women and girls accessing abortion services, information, advice and counselling, and protect staff".

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66917236


Ireland – Safe Access Zones are vital

Annie Hoey
27 June 2023

Labour Senator and Oireachtas Health Committee Member Annie Hoey has welcomed the belated decision of Government to implement legislation to safeguard women attending abortion services. Senator Hoey said:

“Almost five years have passed since the public voted for compassion in a crisis, and for the last five years, many women attending abortion services have had to put up with abhorrent abuse outside GPs, clinics and hospitals. It’s welcome that Government have finally moved to protect women at their most vulnerable, but it is shameful that it has taken this long to put in place a safeguarding framework.”

Continued: https://labour.ie/news/2023/06/27/safe-access-zones-are-vital-2/


Northern Ireland – Abortion: Protest exclusion zones become enforceable by PSNI

May 7, 2023
by Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI political correspondent

Exclusion zones set up to block anti-abortion protests outside health clinics in Northern Ireland can now be enforced by police.

Legislation to set up safe access zones at clinics where abortions are carried out was passed at Stormont last year.

It has now come into effect. The Department of Health told BBC News NI that trusts are working to put the zones in place.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65497779


Call for abortion protest ‘exclusion zones’ in Northern Ireland

By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI Political Reporter
March 31, 2021

Exclusion zones should be introduced outside sexual health clinics and pregnancy counselling centres in NI to protect staff and women accessing services, a report has said.

Protests and demonstrations would not be allowed within the zones.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-56578466


UK – Tears & Trauma: Even Lockdown Didn’t Stop Anti-Abortion Protesters

Tears & Trauma: Even Lockdown Didn’t Stop
Anti-Abortion Protesters

Vicky Spratt
28 June 2020

It’s 8.30am and it’s already warm and muggy. 25 degrees worth of warm and muggy
to be precise. A man is shouting, his words fill the sticky air. He repeated
“every child deserves a birthday” over and over again.

He is holding a large homemade sign. It reads ‘Abortion Murders Babies’ in
large black and red lettering. He’s joined by two more men, they also have
signs. One says ‘THOU SHALL NOT MURDER’, the other declares ‘Babies are
MURDERED here’ above a pixelated image of body parts. Hours pass, they stand together.
The shouting continues. Women rush past, accompanied by friends and family,
trying to avoid them.

Continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2020/06/9883832/rupa-huq-abortion-buffer-zones


Bill to ban protests outside abortion clinics backed by MPs at first Commons hurdle

Bill to ban protests outside abortion clinics backed by MPs at first Commons hurdle
But despite support the bill is unlikely to progress without support from the Government

By Oliver Milne, Political Correspondent
24 JUN 2020

A bill to ban protests outside of abortion facilities has passed its first hurdle in the House of Commons.

The measure, which aims to end the intimidation of women on their way into or out of clinics, was passed with cross-party support after being introduced by Labour MP Rupa Huq.

Continued: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/bill-ban-protests-outside-abortion-22245804


Calls for exclusion zones outside UK abortion clinics amid protests

Calls for exclusion zones outside UK abortion clinics amid protests
Group of 45 people stopped women as they left centre in Finsbury Park on Saturday

Aamna Mohdin
Sat 8 Feb 2020

A leading provider of abortion care has criticised the Home Office for refusing to introduce exclusion zones after a group of anti-abortion activists protested outside a north London clinic on Saturday morning.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) said its clinic in Finsbury Park had never had any problem with demonstrations until Saturday, when staff and clients were met with a group of 45 people protesting outside the centre.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/08/calls-for-exclusion-zones-outside-uk-abortion-clinics-amid-protests


Ireland – Renewed call for safe access zones for abortion services

Renewed call for safe access zones for abortion services

Monday, 6 Jan 2020
By Ailbhe Conneely

The Abortion Rights Alliance has used Nollaig na mBan to issue a statement calling for safe and accessible abortion provision. In a statement, spokesperson Charlene Delaney said "many continue to be left behind by the failings in our legislation".

She has accused the Government of failing to deliver or introduce legislation on safe access zones, which it has promised on countless occasions.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0106/1104625-abortion-rights-call/


Ireland – Abortion: Minister warns of exclusion zones after hospital protests

Abortion: Minister warns of exclusion zones after hospital protests
Maternity hospital street protests ‘sickening’ and ‘anti-democratic’, says Simon Harris

Jan 2, 2019
Paul Cullen Health Editor

Local authorities could be given powers to impose exclusion zones outside maternity hospitals preventing anti-abortion protests, Minister for Health Simon Harris has suggested.

Another option Mr Harris said he was examining was to engage with the Minister for Justice in relation to legislation governing intimidation and harassment.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/abortion-minister-warns-of-exclusion-zones-after-hospital-protests-1.4129036


Ireland – Anti-abortion protest sparks renewed calls for exclusion zones

Anti-abortion protest sparks renewed calls for exclusion zones
Simon Harris ‘appalled’ by protest by 100 people outside National Maternity Hospital

Wed, Jan 1, 2020
Paul Cullen

There have been renewed calls for the imposition of exclusion zones outside maternity units after anti-abortion activists protested outside the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin on New Year’s Day.

About 100 people, some carrying small crosses and banners, demonstrated outside the hospital on Holles Street for several hours on Wednesday.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/anti-abortion-protest-sparks-renewed-calls-for-exclusion-zones-1.4128381