PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CLOSURES OF ABORTION CLINICS (21 June 2015)

That this House is deeply concerned that anti-abortion clinic protests are escalating and having a significant impact on women's ability to access safe, legal reproductive healthcare services and advice; is alarmed to hear that one abortion clinic is to close due to intimidating protests and others have been unable to open due to local fears about anti-abortion activity; notes that groups of threatening protesters continue to harass and film women on a regular basis across the country, displaying graphic banners, and distributing medically inaccurate and deliberately distressing material; further notes that police have stated they are unable to use existing legislation to protect women, clinic staff, and local residents in response to these protests; recognises the right to protest peacefully but asks that this is balanced against women's legal right to access medical care free from intimidation; and calls on the Government to establish abortion clinic buffer zones only to be used in cases where women are being forcefully prevented from accessing treatment, to ensure women are able to access healthcare free from intimidation, and to issue national guidance to local police forces to provide clear advice about dealing with intimidating protesters whose aim is to prevent women from exercising their legal right to access medical treatment.

Sponsored by:
Ms Diane Abbott (Labour)