This is what abortion rights look like around the world (and where the UK stands)

France is set to enshrine a woman’s right to an abortion in its constitution.

By Charley Ross

2 November 2023

In a promising step forward for women's empowerment, French president Emmanuel Macron has promised that a woman's right to abortion will be “enshrined” irreversibly into the country's constitution by next year.

“In 2024, women's freedom to have an abortion will be irreversible,” he posted on social media over the weekend, adding details of how this legislation will come into place.

Continued: https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/abortion-rights-guide-uk-world

02.11.2023

News

Carla Foster

Center for Reproductive Rights

UK – Fury at year-long Home Office delay over protest buffer zones at UK abortion clinics

Suella Braverman accused by MP Stella Creasy of denying will of parliament in passing safe access law

Sian Norris
Sat 21 Oct 2023

Pro-choice MPs and activists have expressed their frustration at the government’s failure to implement a law on buffer zones around abortion clinics one year after 297 MPs voted in favour of the zones and as women face a new wave of protests when accessing reproductive care.

A Home Office spokesperson told the Observer that timelines would be confirmed “in due course” but refused to explain why the law was not yet in force and failed to confirm if a consultation on safe-access zones legislation had been launched.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/fury-at-year-long-home-office-delay-over-protest-buffer-zones-at-uk-abortion-clinics

Where does the British public stand on abortion in 2023?

Abortion is widely supported in the UK

Matthew Smith, Head of Data Journalism
October 12, 2023

While recent events in the USA demonstrate that the abortion debate there is far from settled, a new YouGov UK poll shows a very different situation here.

On the basic question of whether or not abortion should be allowed, 87% of Britons say that it should, compared to only 6% who say it should not – 7% are unsure. Attitudes among men and women are identical in this regard.

Continued: https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/47568-where-does-the-british-public-stand-on-abortion-in-2023

12.10.2023

Research

opinion polls on abortion

public support for abortion

Stella Creasy

survey on abortion

YouGov UK poll on abortion

Europe

United Kingdom

UK – Home Office delay on abortion clinic buffer zones leaves council to act alone

Manchester extends own measures to prevent women from being harassed after legislation delays

Tobi Thomas
Fri 15 Sep 2023

Manchester city council has decided to extend its own measures for preventing women from being harassed when visiting abortion clinics due to delays in government legislation on buffer zones coming into effect.

The Public Order Act, which received royal assent in May, included an amendment which makes it a criminal offence across England and Wales to harass, obstruct or interfere with any woman attending an abortion clinic.

Protesters found guilty of breaching the buffer zones – which would extend 150 metres from the clinics – could be prosecuted and face a fine. Before the amendment passed earlier this year, local councils had taken their own measures to prevent the intimidation and harassment of women visiting abortion clinics.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/15/home-office-delays-abortion-clinic-buffer-zones-leave-council-act-alone

UK – Ex-minister Maria Miller calls for abortion sentencing guidelines

July 19, 2023
By Jennifer McKiernan

A former Conservative minister has called for new sentencing guidelines to prevent women being jailed for taking abortion pills after the legal time limit.

It comes after the imprisonment of a mother-of-three last month under a 162-year-old law. Dame Maria Miller called for "compassion not punishment".

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66249837

19.07.2023

News

1861 Offences against the Person Act

abortion sentencing guidelines

UK – Senior Tory MP seeks abortion law rethink after mother jailed

June 13, 2023
By Jasmine Andersson & Sean Seddon, BBC News

Parliament should debate overhauling abortion rules after a woman was jailed, the chair of the Commons equalities committee has said. Caroline Nokes MP told the BBC the 1861 law used to prosecute mother-of-three Carla Foster was "out of date".

The 44-year-old was convicted of inducing an abortion outside the legal limit using pills at home. Campaigners urged reform after she received a sentence of 28 months, 14 of which will be spent in custody.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65886472

Outrage at jail sentence for woman who took abortion pills later than UK limit

Mitigation plea signed by medical groups was sent to judge, while BPAS chief executive said sentence was ‘shocking and appalling’

Tobi Thomas
Mon 12 Jun 2023

Campaigners and MPs have reacted with outrage to a woman being sentenced to more than two years in prison for procuring drugs to induce an abortion after the legal limit.

The mother of three received the medication under the “pills by post” scheme, which was introduced during the Covid pandemic for unwanted pregnancies up to 10 weeks, after a remote consultation.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/12/woman-in-uk-jailed-for-28-months-over-taking-abortion-pills-after-legal-time-limit

Google adverts direct pregnant women to services run by UK anti-abortion groups

The tech giant is carrying adverts styled to look like real internet search results for women seeking pregnancy advice

Shanti Das
Sat 25 Feb 2023

Women seeking online advice about abortions are being directed to pregnancy counselling services run by anti-abortion campaigners, an Observer investigation has found.

Google adverts that are styled to look like real search results and appear above genuine listings are routinely being shown to people searching key terms relating to pregnancy and abortion.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/25/google-adverts-direct-pregnant-women-anti-abortion-groups

House of Lords backs buffer zones for abortion clinics in England and Wales

The proposal now has one last step to go through before becoming law

BY CARA ROGERS
1 FEB 2023

'Buffer zones' around abortion clinics in England and Wales are closer to becoming a reality following overwhelming support from the House of Lords in a debate, which took place on 30 January. The proposed legislation now has one last step to go before being passed – final approval from the House of Commons.

The proposed provision for buffer zones is an amendment to the Public Order Bill, which was added by Labour MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy.

Continued: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/female-health/a42722555/house-of-lords-buffer-zones-abortion/

UK – MPs back abortion clinic buffer zone law

Oct 18, 2022

Plans to enforce buffer zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales have been backed by MPs.

Under the proposed law, harassing, obstructing or interfering with any woman attending an abortion clinic would become a criminal offence.

Protesters found guilty of breaching 150-metre buffer zones around clinics would face up to six months in jail.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63302710