Comment Time to move anti-abortion protest out of women’s way
intimidation and distress felt by the women is also linked to women’s broader experiences in public spaces.
Generally speaking, street harassment is increasingly being recognised as a form of sexism or violence against women.
Given this context, it is not surprising that being accosted by strangers outside an abortion clinic can be experienced as intimidating.
We also usually expect our healthcare decisions to be made privately.
Yet anti-abortion activists expect women to discuss their reasons for attending the clinic to strangers on the street.
Anti-abortion activists intend their actions to be a public spectacle and this draws attention to women as they seek to enter and leave a clinic.
Anti-abortion activists claim that they are offering support to women who might change their mind about a termination.
But the number of women who decide to continue their pregnancy after contacting an abortion clinic does not change whether or not there are anti-abortion activists outside.
But even if a small number of women do prefer to talk to antiabortion organisations than clinic staff, does that outweigh the rights of the majority of women who do not want to encounter them?
In 2009 anti-war protesters were found to be causing a public nuisance when they turned up at an armed forces home coming parade. It was generally agreed that this was not the time or place for their protest to take place. It is about time that we make a similar decision about the antiabortion groups. Last week Ealing Council decided that enough was enough. They have recently voted to take action to create a buffer zone, a safe access zone around their local abortion clinic where demonstrations about abortion will be banned. Asking those opposed to abortion to move 200 metres down the road is not an attack on free speech, it is simply balancing the rights of those who want to protest with the right of women to access a healthcare services without interference. If Ealing can stop the harassment directly outside abortion clinics, there is no reason that Birmingham Council shouldn’t do the same. Directly outside a clinic is not an appropriate place to make a public statement about opposition to abortion. Women should be able to access abortion services without hindrance and I hope that Birmingham will follow Ealing’s lead. Dr Pam Lowe is a senior lecturer in sociology at Aston University All views are expressed by Dr Pam Lowe and are not necessarily held by Aston University
Everybody is entitled to their religious belief... but the question is whether or not this is ever justification to intimidate others?