Call for buffer zones ‘as inaction emboldens anti-abortion activists’
Campaigners and MSPS are calling on Nicola Sturgeon to intervene and introduce buffer zones as an anti-abortion protest sees over a hundred people gather outside Glasgow’s flagship hospital.
Campaigners have said the women’shealthministermaree Todd “must step aside” if she does not fulfil calls to protect women’s rights in accessing healthcare.
Itcomesasover100anti-abortion protestors gathered outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Sunday.
Monica Lennon MSP told The Scotsman Ms Todd needs to “show some humility” as she called on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon “to ensure buffer zones are being discussed at cabinet level”.
Ms Lennon added “Government inaction” is “emboldeninganti-abortionprotesters”as campaign group Back Off Scotland continues its call for 150m bufferzonestobeimplemented around maternity units.
Lucy Grieve, co-founder and director of the group said: “We know these protests have been going on unchallenged by the Scottish Government since the late 1990s and we’re basically finding ourselves in situation where it’s getting worse.
"There’sbeenevidencein2018 the largest anti-choice protest intheukoutsideaclinicwasin thatsamespot.that’satangible situation we are going to face.
"This was in the SNP manifesto and the women’s health plan. Idon’tthinkthewomen’shealth minister is fulfilling her mandate which is to protect women’shealthandprotecttheright
to accessing healthcare. This is her jurisdiction and if she’s not up to it she has to step aside.”
Countless women seeking abortions have talked to Back Off Scotland about their “really horrible accounts”, including women who have had to terminate “much-wanted” pregnancies for medical reasons to save their own lives.
Ms Grieve said: "They are going in for this procedure and from the maternity ward unit they can see the protesters and
they can hear chanting and prayer recitals.
"Midwives have also said they havetogoineverymorningand face this harassment.”
Ms Todd said she condemns “in the strongest possible terms” any attempts to intimidatewomenaccessingabortion services.
Consultation on a member’s Bill brought forward by Green MSP Gillian Mackay to introduce buffer zones is currently being finalised and Ms Todd
said she is working “constructively” with the Green MSP on bringing forward the bill.
Ms Lennon who chairs the cross-party group on women’s health issues in Parliament said: "It’s really disappointing that the Scottish Government hasn’t taken any action.
"People might not have been hurt physically by this yet but they have been hurt emotionally and mentally and the Scottish Government needs to tackle responsibility for that.”
Thehealthministerpreviously claimed councils can enact by-laws to ban certain protests. However Cosla, the governing body for local councils, sought legal advice which said it would need to come from the Scottish Government. Ms Lennon said: “It’s really clear from the legal advice Cosla have obtained that local by-laws are not the answerandthat’swhyanational approach is so necessary.”