Pro-choice campaigners fight moves to turn back clock on abortion rights (UK)

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Pro-choice campaigners and their political allies are coming together to stage a fightback against what they view as attempts by the Christian right and social conservatives to chip away at established abortion rights as MPs stage a cross-party attempt to tighten legislation.

It comes as a "rising tide of opposition and concern" is emerging about the agenda of figures in the government, according to Diane Abbott, the shadow minister for public health, who is to address a pro-choice meeting in London on Monday.

The gathering will bring together women's rights activists, trade unionists and others and is one of a number being organised nationwide in which liberal-left bloggers are playing a key role.

A pro-choice rally in London on 9 July is also being organised following the Guardian's report last month that the government had appointed an anti-abortion charity, Life, to a new sexual health advisory forum and omitted the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/05/abortion-rights-prochoice-diane-abbott

[chowder66]

1. We need more of this here in the states. eom

[SkyDaddy7]

2. I AGREE!

:toast: :hi:

[Prophet 451]

3. It won't happen

The rolling back of rights, I mean. Although it's always worth being on-guard, abortion is simply not as much of a hot button here as it is in the States. Most people don't consider the issue at all when they vote or any time they're not actually in need of an abortion. It's just not an entry on the public's agenda.

[No Elephants]

5. Leaving the UK to get an abortion is easier than leaving the US to get an abortion.

That may have something to do with why it is more of a hot button issue in the U.S.

[Prophet 451]

6. True but there's also less need to leave

Abortions are covered by the NHS up to 20 weeks (although abortions past 12 weeks are very rare and almost always for medical reasons) and done by regular hospitals. It's relatively easy to get an early abortion on the NHS and there's no major public push to change that. Abortion is just not much of an issue here.

[StarsInHerHair]

4. I hope they use "women are not reproductive machines" that the women in

Mexico used, i think THAT helps get the real feelings out in the open.