5.3.07

Press conference and campaign launch for a modern abortion law

Wednesday 07 March 2007 (ahead of International Women’s Day March 8th) 12.30 - 1.30pm House of Commons, Room W1, off of Westminster Hall

A new opinion poll conducted by GFK/NOP and commissioned by Abortion Rights shows overwhelming support a woman's right to choose an abortion in the first three months of pregnancy – illustrating how strong the pro-choice majority remains in the UK. British law currently restricts the circumstances in which a woman can have an abortion and the decision must be approved by two doctors.

Unlike in most other European countries, women in Britain still don't have the right to make their own abortion decisions. This is causing unnecessary obstructions, delays and costs to the NHS as well as distress to women.

On Wednesday Abortion Rights, the national pro-choice campaign, will be joined by the Pro-Choice All-Party Parliamentary Group, Lord David Steel (architect of the 1967 Abortion Act) and the Voice for Choice sexual health organisations to launch the 40th anniversary ‘pro-choice majority’ campaign.

The campaign is calling on the government to take a lead in changing the abortion law to allow women to make the decision and improving NHS practice to end delays in service provision.

At the event:
- Abortion Rights will release startling new opinion poll results showing overwhelming support for a woman's right to choose.
- The fpa will show how improving service provision can save the NHS millions of pounds
- A new ‘speak-out’ website will be launched where women can, for the first time, break the abortion taboo by publicly telling their stories.
- Journalists will be able to interview experts and arrange interviews with women who have had an abortion.

ENDS For more information or interviews please contact Anne Quesney, Director of Abortion Rights on 020 7923 9792 or 07909 974 101.

NOTES TO EDITOR:
1. Media are welcome to attend. Please email choice@abortionrights.org.uk.

2. Speakers will include Anne Quesney, Director of Abortion Rights; Laura Moffatt, Secretary Pro-Choice and Sexual Health All Party Parliamentary Group; Lord Steel (architect of the 1967 Abortion Act); Rachel Stewart, fpa; Lisa Hallgarten, Voice for Choice.

3. Abortion Rights is the national pro-choice campaign, working to defend and extend abortion rights and provide a pro-choice voice to the media. Abortion Rights campaigns to: - Liberalise the current UK abortion law and make abortion available on request, at least in the first three months and with one doctor’s signature thereafter. - Improve access to, and experience of, abortion – ensure that all women in the UK have equal access to safe, legal and free abortion.
- Oppose any restrictions to women’s current rights and access to abortion.

4. Abortion in the UK:
- Approximately one in three women have an abortion in her lifetime.
- Abortion laws in the UK are more restrictive than many European countries, where abortion on request is legal in the first three months of pregnancy.
- Abortion has been legal in Britain since 1967, but only by permission of two doctors and in restricted circumstances.
- Ten per cent of GPs consider themselves to be conscientious objectors and frequently refuse to grant women an abortion, despite General Medical Council guidelines.
- A quarter of women having abortions in England and Wales have to pay for them - there are no public funds available specifically to help poorer women in these circumstances.