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/

US-style anti-abortion protests come to Europe

With protests against abortion rights becoming increasingly aggressive, countries such as England, Wales and Spain are drawing up laws to protect people at clinics.

Ines Eisele
October 23, 2022

On January 20, 2023, hundreds of thousands of opponents of abortion rights are expected to gather in the US capital, Washington D.C., for the "March for Life." The march takes place annually on or around the anniversary of the January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade decision, which had protected abortion rights in the United States until this June, when the US Supreme Court overturned the decision. Several states have since further restricted abortion.

Though the march is the biggest and most famous anti-abortion event, there are many such rallies in the United States and around the world. Many organizations that were founded to oppose abortion rights in the United States now have branches abroad. One of the biggest organizations in the world for opponents of reproductive rights is 40 Days for Life, a Christian organization that campaigns against abortion in dozens of countries.

Continued: https://www.dw.com/en/us-style-anti-abortion-protests-are-spreading-to-europe/a-63528128

Permanent access to at-home abortions to be granted in England and Wales

Abortion Act to be amended from 30 August after ministers forced to ditch plans to scrap ‘pills by post’ service

Andrew Gregory, Health editor
Tue 23 Aug 2022

Women in England and Wales will be able to permanently access early medical abortions at home from next week after ministers were forced to abandon plans to scrap the “pills by post” service.

The move will benefit thousands of women who wish to take the tablets needed to end a pregnancy in the privacy of their own home, rather than having to take the first pills at a clinic or hospital.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/23/permanent-access-to-at-home-abortions-to-be-granted-in-england-and-wales

23.08.2022

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After Roe: Recognising the importance of reproductive rights in England and Wales

Following the US Supreme Court’s controversial reversal of Roe v Wade, aspiring barrister Jade Rae explains the importance of the Abortion Act 1967 in England and Wales

By Jade Rae
Jul 18 2022

The US Supreme Court has just overturned the decision of Roe v Wade, a landmark case regarding abortion rights from over 50 years ago, completely destroying the reproductive rights of people with uteruses in America. With at least 26 States expected to ban abortion immediately, this terrifying reversal will have disastrous effects on the physical and mental health of people expected to carry a foetus. This naturally leads one to reflect on the law surrounding abortion in England and Wales and why it is one of the most important pieces of law to date.

First, without the Abortion Act 1967, abortion still remains a criminal offence. Under section 58 of the Offences Against a Person Act 1861, any woman with child who attempts to procure a miscarriage and any person who aids a woman in an attempt to procure a miscarriage will be guilty of felony and being convicted thereof shall be liable to be kept in penal servitude for life.

Continued: https://www.legalcheek.com/lc-journal-posts/after-roe-recognising-the-importance-of-reproductive-rights-in-england-and-wales/

Record number of abortions in England and Wales amid financial insecurity

Terminations increase to 215,000 with most pronounced rise among women aged 30-34

Denis Campbell Health policy editor
Tue 21 Jun 2022

A record number of abortions took place in England and Wales last year in a trend experts said was driven by financial uncertainty caused by Covid-19.

There were 214,869 terminations during 2021, the highest number since the procedure became legal in Great Britain through the 1967 Abortion Act, the latest annual abortion statistics published on Tuesday show. Numbers have been going up every year since 2016.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/21/record-number-of-abortions-in-england-and-wales-amid-financial-insecurity

21.06.2022

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More Than Half of Abortions Now Carried Out at Home in England and Wales

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION (Jane Kirby and Ian Jones, PA)
21 June 2022

Changes to how women access abortion mean more than half of terminations are now carried out at home, new figures show.

Data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reveals that 52% of all abortions in 2021 involved women taking mifepristone and misoprostol pills in their homes.

Continued: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-21/-more-than-half-of-abortions-now-carried-out-at-home

21.06.2022

Why changes to abortion laws during the pandemic should remain

August 10, 2021
The Conversation
Elizabeth Chloe Romanis, Jordan A. Parsons, Thomas Hampton

As a result of the pandemic, the governments in England, Scotland and Wales temporarily relaxed abortion rules in March 2020. This means that, in every part of the UK except for Northern Ireland, people early in pregnancy can to take abortion pills at home following a telephone consultation. But with COVID restrictions largely eased across the UK, there’s uncertainty over whether this will still be allowed.

Before the pandemic, for an early medical abortion to be legal in Great Britain people had to go to a clinic where they were given two drugs – mifepristone and misoprostol. The first pill had to be taken under supervision, while misoprostol was taken later at home.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/why-changes-to-abortion-laws-during-the-pandemic-should-remain-162378

One in four pregnancies ends in abortion in England and Wales

Neil Johnston, The Times
Friday August 06 2021

More than one in four pregnancies now end in abortion as more older women opt for terminations, figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said
that the share of women who choose abortion is now more than a quarter for the
first time as the number rose for the second year in a row.

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/one-in-four-pregnancies-end-in-abortion-in-england-and-wales-dxfp65b2g

06.08.2021

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James Mildred

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Record number of women in England and Wales had abortions in 2020

Increase put down to women being able to seek treatment at home and financial uncertainty

Sarah Marsh
Thu 10 Jun 2021

A record number of women in England and Wales had an abortion last year, with the rise particularly among women aged 30 and over.

A total of 209,917 abortions were reported in 2020, with the numbers rising year on year and up from 207,384 in 2019. The largest increases in abortion rates by age were among women aged 30 to 34 with a rise from 16.5 per 1,000 in 2010 to 21.9 in 2020.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/10/record-number-of-women-in-england-and-wales-had-abortions-in-2020

10.06.2021

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Make home abortion permanently legal, doctors leader urges

Katie Gibbons, The Times Friday February 19 2021

Doctors are calling for home medical abortions to be made permanently legal as figures show that allowing women to take pills in private without visiting a clinic cuts waiting times.

Temporary legislation was introduced at the beginning of the pandemic to allow women easier access to medical termination in their homes via phone and video consultations.

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/make-home-abortion-permanently-legal-doctors-leader-urges-886m2rtnk