| Politicians shouldn’t play politics with women’s lives |
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PRESS RELEASE Conservative leader, Michael Howard's, intervention to attack abortion rights is a cynical and ill-advised manoeuvre in the run up to the general election. Promises that a Tory government would give the parliamentary time needed for a cut in time limits for abortion is playing politics with women's lives. Abortion laws in this country are strongly supported and Howard should respect them and women's views. Politicians seeking women's votes would be better placed if they focussed on improving access and services and trusted women to make the right decisions for themselves. Only last week, the Bush administration totally isolated the US by intervening into the Beijing +10 Conference to attack abortion. His intervention had to be withdrawn so that the Beijing Platform for Action could be agreed. The vast majority, 89 per cent, of abortions take place in the first three months. Late abortions are very rare - only 0.6 per cent take place between 22 and 24 weeks. They take place for exceptional and unforeseen reasons and are not taken lightly by anyone involved. A reduction of the current legal time limit would lead to some of the most vulnerable women in society being forced to continue with pregnancies against their will. Howard's claim that women in the UK have abortion on demand shows how little he is aware of the situation. Despite 76 per cent of the British population supporting a woman's right to choose, UK law does not allow abortion on request and women face serious obstacles every day. The combination of restrictive legal criteria, anti-choice GPs delaying or refusing to refer women on, insufficient NHS provision and prohibitive private sector fees means that access to abortion is by no means guaranteed. In countries where abortion is illegal, thousands of women die every year through unsafe abortion. We call on all politicians to remain committed to safe, legal abortion. ENDS Notes to editor: 1. Abortion Rights is the only abortion focussed campaigning and advocacy organisation in the UK. We lead the campaigns to defend and extend abortion rights and provide a pro-choice voice to the media. 2. Abortion Rights is campaigning to: * Liberalise the current UK abortion law and make abortion available on request 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 3. Abortion in the UK * One in three women has an abortion in her lifetime * 76 per cent of the British population support a woman's right to choose. * Abortion laws in the UK are more restrictive than in almost every other European country, 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 e-mail choice@abortionrights.org.uk web www.abortionrights.org.uk |
