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| Abortion care summit brings clinic buffer zones closer | Abortion care summit brings clinic buffer zones closer |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
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| The first minister convened a meeting to discuss options to protect women using clinics | |
| Legal buffer zones around medical clinics could be a step closer after a national summit on abortion care. | Legal buffer zones around medical clinics could be a step closer after a national summit on abortion care. |
| Nicola Sturgeon will convene a meeting later to discuss a new bill to protect workers and service users at termination clinics in Scotland. | Nicola Sturgeon will convene a meeting later to discuss a new bill to protect workers and service users at termination clinics in Scotland. |
| The Scottish government has intimated it will support the member's bill introduced by Green MSP Gillian Mackay a month ago. | The Scottish government has intimated it will support the member's bill introduced by Green MSP Gillian Mackay a month ago. |
| The law would see 492ft (150m) no-go areas put in outside health facilities. | The law would see 492ft (150m) no-go areas put in outside health facilities. |
| The Edinburgh summit aims to ensure that women in Scotland can access services without fear, harassment or intimidation. | The Edinburgh summit aims to ensure that women in Scotland can access services without fear, harassment or intimidation. |
| MSP wrong to criticise abortion clinics - Sturgeon | MSP wrong to criticise abortion clinics - Sturgeon |
| Fresh calls for UK abortion clinic buffer zones | Fresh calls for UK abortion clinic buffer zones |
| It follows recent reports of escalating incidents at the Sandyford clinic in central Glasgow. | It follows recent reports of escalating incidents at the Sandyford clinic in central Glasgow. |
| Women's Health Minister Maree Todd, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that staff and people attending clinics told her that protests were intimidating. | Women's Health Minister Maree Todd, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that staff and people attending clinics told her that protests were intimidating. |
| She said: "Everybody who is accessing healthcare at these sites has to run the gauntlet past them | She said: "Everybody who is accessing healthcare at these sites has to run the gauntlet past them |
| "At the ones at Sandyford we have seen an escalation in behaviour. We have seen really, truly offensive signage being held up, voice amplification across the front of the building. | "At the ones at Sandyford we have seen an escalation in behaviour. We have seen really, truly offensive signage being held up, voice amplification across the front of the building. |
| "People are unable to ignore the protests and we have potentially seen the use of bodycams which is a real invasion of privacy as someone accesses healthcare." | "People are unable to ignore the protests and we have potentially seen the use of bodycams which is a real invasion of privacy as someone accesses healthcare." |
| There are fears the recent reversal of abortion rights in the US will "embolden" protesters in Scotland | There are fears the recent reversal of abortion rights in the US will "embolden" protesters in Scotland |
| Anti-abortion groups, such as the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, have said they would continue to defend the right to pray in public and offer help to women outside clinics. | Anti-abortion groups, such as the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, have said they would continue to defend the right to pray in public and offer help to women outside clinics. |
| Lois McLatchie, from the Christian campaigning group ADF UK, told the BBC her volunteers were offering support and advice on alternatives to abortion. | Lois McLatchie, from the Christian campaigning group ADF UK, told the BBC her volunteers were offering support and advice on alternatives to abortion. |
| She added: "Buffer zones ban legitimate offers of help and silent prayer and mean women may not be able to access those other options - practical help or financial help. | She added: "Buffer zones ban legitimate offers of help and silent prayer and mean women may not be able to access those other options - practical help or financial help. |
| "Women have the right to hear about these options at the point of need and it is patronising of the government saying women don't want to hear this." | "Women have the right to hear about these options at the point of need and it is patronising of the government saying women don't want to hear this." |
| 'Highly inappropriate' | 'Highly inappropriate' |
| However, Alice Murray of pro-choice group Back Off Scotland - said there was a misunderstanding from some anti-abortion campaigners over what happens at clinic appointments. | However, Alice Murray of pro-choice group Back Off Scotland - said there was a misunderstanding from some anti-abortion campaigners over what happens at clinic appointments. |
| She said: "Women don't need to be offered the other side by strangers outside. You are talked through the process and your options by a specific healthcare provider. | She said: "Women don't need to be offered the other side by strangers outside. You are talked through the process and your options by a specific healthcare provider. |
| "We believe it should be the NHS and healthcare providers who give that information. A lot of the leaflets we see handed out outside these clinics have misinformation on them. | "We believe it should be the NHS and healthcare providers who give that information. A lot of the leaflets we see handed out outside these clinics have misinformation on them. |
| "These people outside can't be trusted to give accurate advice or support. It's highly inappropriate." | "These people outside can't be trusted to give accurate advice or support. It's highly inappropriate." |
| Protesters hand out leaflets to women accessing abortion services, which pro-choice campaigners say contain misinformation | Protesters hand out leaflets to women accessing abortion services, which pro-choice campaigners say contain misinformation |
| Green MSP Gillian Mackay has introduced a member's bill | |
| The summit comes after the US Supreme Court struck down the landmark Roe v Wade decision, transforming abortion rights in America and allowing individual states to ban the procedure. | The summit comes after the US Supreme Court struck down the landmark Roe v Wade decision, transforming abortion rights in America and allowing individual states to ban the procedure. |
| Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who introduced the bill, said the US move would "stop safe abortions and put lives at risk." | Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who introduced the bill, said the US move would "stop safe abortions and put lives at risk." |
| She said: "Here we need to continue to fight for progress. That means buffer zones, telemedical abortion and services safe and accessible for all. | She said: "Here we need to continue to fight for progress. That means buffer zones, telemedical abortion and services safe and accessible for all. |
| "There is no place for the type of intimidation and harassment we are regularly seeing outside these healthcare facilities at the moment. | "There is no place for the type of intimidation and harassment we are regularly seeing outside these healthcare facilities at the moment. |
| "Both healthcare staff, and those accessing services, have relayed horrifying stories of the impact this harassment can have." | "Both healthcare staff, and those accessing services, have relayed horrifying stories of the impact this harassment can have." |
| UK court ruling on NI abortion law due | UK court ruling on NI abortion law due |
| Glasgow Council's abortion protest buffer zone report overdue | Glasgow Council's abortion protest buffer zone report overdue |
| Nicola Sturgeon spoke recently on the "legal complexities" around legislating for buffer zones, but said those were challenges local authorities and national government wanted to work through. | Nicola Sturgeon spoke recently on the "legal complexities" around legislating for buffer zones, but said those were challenges local authorities and national government wanted to work through. |
| As well as discussing legislation to introduce buffer zones, the first minister's summit will also seek to identify immediate actions to protect women outside hospitals and sexual health clinics. | As well as discussing legislation to introduce buffer zones, the first minister's summit will also seek to identify immediate actions to protect women outside hospitals and sexual health clinics. |
| Ms Sturgeon described the Roe v Wade decision "one of the darkest days for women's rights." | Ms Sturgeon described the Roe v Wade decision "one of the darkest days for women's rights." |
| She said: "Obviously the immediate consequences will be suffered by women in the US - but this will embolden anti-abortion and anti-women forces in other countries too." | She said: "Obviously the immediate consequences will be suffered by women in the US - but this will embolden anti-abortion and anti-women forces in other countries too." |