Abortion Rights, the UK pro-choice organisation is planning a public meeting this Tuesday 7th October at 7pm in the House of Commons. Speakers will include Dr Evan Harris MP, Diane Abbott MP and Dr Audrey Simpson from the Family Planning Association of Northern Ireland. The meeting is aimed at putting pressure on the government to defend and improve rights for women as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is debated in coming weeks.
A woman's right to choose in the UK is currently under fire thanks to elements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill currently being debated in parliament. At the same time the bill offers a possibility of actually improving the situation for women in the UK - getting rid of the hurdle of having to obtain two doctor's signatures and most vitally allowing women in Northern Ireland the right to access safe and legal abortion if they choose.
The Abortion Rights website explains: "The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill goes through its final stages in Parliament this autumn. In May we defeated anti-abortion amendments to lower the time limit from 24 weeks. This was a huge victory for women, the pro-choice movement and Abortion Rights. Yet the campaign is not over - anti-abortion MPs have tabled a series of amendments to restrict women's abortion rights when the Bill is voted on at its decisive Report Stage. We believe these amendments must be defeated.
"Women in fact need improved rights. Forty years after the enactment of the 1967 Abortion Act, pro-choice MPs are seeking to improve access to abortion and bring the law into line with developments in medical practice and social attitudes. Changes proposed include a reduction in the number of doctors who need to consent, from two to one, and the extension of the law to Northern Ireland.
"Eighty-three per cent of people support a woman's right to choose. Abortion Rights believes the law should reflect that majority."
Speakers planned for the event include Diane Abbott MP, Annie Campbell - Alliance for Choice, Kay Carberry - TUC Assistant General Secretary, Katy Clark MP, Katie Curtis NUS, Evan Harris MP, Jacqui Lait MP; Wendy Savage - Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion, Dr Audrey Simpson - fpa Northern Ireland and Polly Toynbee - Guardian commentator.
Organisers are hoping for a big turn-out. Members of the public wishing to attend should aim to arrive by 6.30pm at the St Stephen's gate entrance to parliament, where Abortion Rights stewards will direct them to the meeting.
The Abortion Rights website explains: "The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill goes through its final stages in Parliament this autumn. In May we defeated anti-abortion amendments to lower the time limit from 24 weeks. This was a huge victory for women, the pro-choice movement and Abortion Rights. Yet the campaign is not over - anti-abortion MPs have tabled a series of amendments to restrict women's abortion rights when the Bill is voted on at its decisive Report Stage. We believe these amendments must be defeated.
"Women in fact need improved rights. Forty years after the enactment of the 1967 Abortion Act, pro-choice MPs are seeking to improve access to abortion and bring the law into line with developments in medical practice and social attitudes. Changes proposed include a reduction in the number of doctors who need to consent, from two to one, and the extension of the law to Northern Ireland.
"Eighty-three per cent of people support a woman's right to choose. Abortion Rights believes the law should reflect that majority."
Speakers planned for the event include Diane Abbott MP, Annie Campbell - Alliance for Choice, Kay Carberry - TUC Assistant General Secretary, Katy Clark MP, Katie Curtis NUS, Evan Harris MP, Jacqui Lait MP; Wendy Savage - Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion, Dr Audrey Simpson - fpa Northern Ireland and Polly Toynbee - Guardian commentator.
Organisers are hoping for a big turn-out. Members of the public wishing to attend should aim to arrive by 6.30pm at the St Stephen's gate entrance to parliament, where Abortion Rights stewards will direct them to the meeting.
e-mail:
Homepage:
Comments
Display the following 5 comments