{"id":188484,"date":"2018-09-14T18:00:36","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T23:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=188484"},"modified":"2018-09-14T18:00:36","modified_gmt":"2018-09-14T23:00:36","slug":"uk-rejects-abortion-buffer-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/uk-rejects-abortion-buffer-zones\/","title":{"rendered":"UK government rejects idea of abortion facility ‘buffer zones’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The UK Independent reported<\/a> yesterday that home secretary Sajid Javid considered evidence obtained in a review of pro-life activities outside UK abortion facilities and decided that creating free speech “buffer zones” around the facilities would be an unwarranted move. Javid said, “Having considered the evidence of the review, I have therefore reached the conclusion that introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response, considering the experiences of the majority of hospitals and clinics, and considering that the majority of activities are more passive in nature.”<\/p>\n

READ: Buffer zone laws are anything but pro-choice<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

His predecessor, Amber Rudd, had called for the review, noting that anyone entering an abortion facility shouldn’t feel intimidated. But Javid noted that any violence or actual intimidation was “not the norm” outside the facilities. The Independent writes:<\/p>\n

[Javid] said that in some of these cases, protesters distributed out model foetuses, displayed graphic images, followed people, blocked their paths and even went so far as to assault\u00a0them.<\/em><\/p>\n

But the home secretary\u00a0said the\u00a0review showed these activities were \u201cnot the norm\u201d and most anti-abortion activities were \u201cmore passive\u201d, including\u00a0praying, handing out leaflets, and showing banners.<\/em><\/p>\n

According to the review, in 2017, 363 hospitals and clinics in England and Wales performed\u00a0abortions. Of these,\u00a036 experienced anti-abortion demonstrations.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr Javid said there was already existing\u00a0legislation \u2013 such as\u00a0the Public Order Act 1986 \u2013\u00a0which\u00a0limits protest activities that\u00a0harm others.<\/em><\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, several have objected to Javid’s decision. Dr. John Chisolm, chair of the medical ethics committee at the British Medical Association, stated in part, “approaching women accessing [abortion] services who may already feel vulnerable is unacceptable.” The managing director of Marie Stopes UK — the UK’s largest abortion provider — agreed, saying, “We don\u2019t believe anyone should face harassment when accessing a legal, confidential health service….”<\/p>\n

READ: Under new law in Australia, pro-life sidewalk counselors can be jailed<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

But, of course, abortion is not just like any other “health service.” Abortion is the intentional killing of a human being in his or her mother’s womb. The video below shows a D&E abortion, which takes place between 13 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is legal in the UK up to 24 weeks and, according to the NHS<\/a>, “can be carried out after 24 weeks in certain circumstances \u2013 for example, if the mother’s life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability”:<\/p>\n