Demand for safe zones at abortion hospitals
Call comes after US group ‘plans to intercept women using the service’
SAFE zones around hospitals are needed to protect women from a US group planning to intercept them while trying to access abortion services, it was claimed yesterday.
It came as the Health Minister described the tactics of Sidewalk Advocates For Life as chilling, manipulative and disrespectful of the democratic process.
An undercover investigation has revealed the outfit is training people here to intercept women before they access abortion services to talk them out of it. Labour Senator Ivana Bacik called on Health Minister Simon Harris to protect vulnerable women seeking help.
She said: “Given the reporting today on plans by Us-based antichoice groups, who have very intimidating means of targeting women and who now plan to bring their activities to Ireland, this issue has become even more pertinent. Exclusion zones were not included in the legislation for abortion passed in December and many of us raised this issue during the debates at the time and warned about the risk of protests outside clinics.
“The Health Minister should not allow the practice of intimidation of women outside GP offices and health clinics to take hold before he acts.
“He should seek to amend current legislation or bring in new law if necessary, as soon as possible.”
Mr Harris yesterday said making safe access zones around hospitals and GP practices will be a priority for him.
He added: “It’s the old fashioned view you know better than a woman and her doctor and this is something we really need to call out.”
In a statement to The Times Ireland, Sidewalk Advocates For Life described itself as a “law-abiding organisation that teaches others to lovingly and peacefully reach out to women at abortion centres, offering them non-violent solutions to their crisis situation”.