A BILL to tackle anti-abortion protests outside health facilities in Scotland has been published at Holyrood.
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill offers the “best protections” in the UK, the MSP proposing it has said.
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay’s bill follows a campaign for buffer zones in Scotland which began in 2020.
READ MORE: LIVE: Reaction as Labour win Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election
Anti-abortion groups have staged demonstrations outside healthcare clinics in recent years, sparking public outcry.
It comes after England, Wales and Northern Ireland have introduced similar legislation.
Under the terms of the legislation, protesters face unlimited fines if they breach a 200-metre limit around medical centres to “safeguard public health”, and health boards can apply to have the size of the buffer zone extended.
Mackay (below) said: “There is no excuse for the harassment that far too many people have had to endure when accessing healthcare. These protests should not be happening and today we are an important step closer to ending them for good.
“We have learnt from those who have worked to deliver buffer zones in other countries, particularly in Northern Ireland. The Bill I have lodged builds on these experiences and I am confident that it will provide the best protections anywhere in the UK.
“These protests have gone on for far too long. I am determined to ensure the appalling and distressing scenes we have witnessed outside hospitals and abortion clinics are stopped.
“There were more than 12,000 submissions to my consultation, showing the strength of feeling. These submissions have allowed us to prepare the strongest and most robust possible Bill.
READ MORE: SNP split on independence plan after Rutherglen by-election result
“I am grateful to everyone who has shared their experiences and trusted me with their stories. I will do everything to ensure we do you justice and that nobody else has to endure what you have.”
The bill has received cross-party support from more than 70 MSPs, including First Minister Humza Yousaf.
Other party leaders, excluding Douglas Ross, have also shown their support for the legislation before the summer recess.
It will criminalise attempts to restrict access, for example by chaining doors closed at clinics providing abortion services and “influencing a decision”, but it will not infringe on the right to freedom of expression.
It comes as anti-abortion campaigners 40 Days for Life have begun another round of protests outside of clinics across Scotland this month.
The Scottish Government said women should not experience “distress or alarm” at abortion clinics and welcomed the publication of the Bill.
Women’s Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “This is an important milestone towards national legislation to protect women from unwanted influence, distress or alarm when accessing abortion services.
“The decision to access abortion services is an individual and personal choice which should not be subject to public demonstration or influence outside premises providing abortion services.
READ MORE: Scottish independence support leads support for Union, report finds
“It is unacceptable for women to face any fear of intimidation, harassment or unwanted influence when accessing essential healthcare services.
“The Scottish Government is grateful to Ms Mackay for the work she has undertaken to reach this stage and we will continue supporting her Member’s Bill as it makes its way through Parliament.”
The buffer zones bill will now be scrutinised and debated by MSPs.
A statement from Back Off Scotland, which has campaigned for buffer zones, said: “Since we started our campaign in 2020, we have collected thousands of stories about women who have been harassed at the gates of medical facilities.
“The launch of this crucial legislation has come not a moment too soon, and we look forward to working closely with Gillian Mackay MSP to ensure the Bill can pass through Parliament at pace.”
Anti-abortion protests in Scotland have become a growing issue in recent years after 40 Days for Life began picketing outside of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH, above) in Glasgow in 2016.
It was the first of its kind outside of a Scottish clinic but now the sight of anti-abortion campaigners holding prayer “vigils” has become commonplace.
We previously told how the evangelical group works as a franchise to recruit members in an attempt to stop women from using lifeline health services.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here