NTS OF THE DAY ets or Forward to Free Choice' IP (one of the sponsors of the 1967 e on the latest attacks in Parliament en's access to safe, legal abortion. ggle for Abortion' f the Tobacco Workers Union. eland, Spain and America have been plays and small forums on aspects of ont (Socialist Medical Association).
Photo: ANGELA PHILLIPS (IFL)
SUPPORT ouR ITALIAN SISTERS A PICKET of the Italian Embassy in London demonstrates solidarity with Italian women in their struggle for abortion rights.
Local cam darcus draws This kind of Bill.
ITALIAN CN WOMEN support from many trade unions and Labour Parties and that can bring 30,000 trade unionists and women's liberationists out onto the streets as it did in June 1975 against the James White Amendment Bill.
movement has always been counterposed to the wheelings and dealings that the anti-abortionists have indulged in. Now we are facing a situation where these again crawling around the lobbies of Parliament, and have succeeded in getting support for a Bill, which by the time it has been amended, will be similar to its predecessor the James White The wide support for the Tribunal on Abortion Rights which is to be held this weekend and the number of activists expected to attend clearly demonstrates that many members of the Trades Councils and Constituency Labour Parties, 15 trade union branches and four national only 20 per cent or aborons are done on these sorts of In themselves at the mercy of backstreet abortionists or in the private clinics.
This situation is exacerbated by the cuts in for example restrictions in facilities in order to save money; Ine anempted closure or me cuzabem darren Anderson Hospital has meant the loss of 400 abortons per year.
Despite the dence is coming in to the Tribunal about some very positive campaigns for out-patient facilities. These have received wide as Glasgow, Cardiff and Bristol. In Glasgow a campaign for out-patient facilities has launched at a meeting attended by some 30-40 trade unionists representing trade unions and Glasgow Trades Council. The areas women find demonstration on 14 May action, expectencies.
public spending. Oxford Area Health Authority, threatened in this way will action be taken. nave issuee a circular calline tol the Benyon Bill.
downturn in the campaign, evisupport in areas such really need been five different to It is through this kind of local and national , and not through relying on parliamentary Inal we can really force MPs to vote against the Bill. Only when their position is Pro-abortionists should draw on the support shown for the Tribunal and use its information and conclusions to broaden support locally and build a united movement against defeat this parliamentary clique and go torward to plan and fight for the kind of facilities we Under the slogan 'a woman's right to choose —free abortion on demand', NAC will advance in that united movement the democratic right of women to control their fertility and for provision of facilities so that that right is a reality.
women this choice, how much more restrictive do you think the situation would be if the Benyon Bill were to be passed?
It would be restrictive immediately in putting the abortion charities out of business. We think that the Bill will say that abortion referral agen cies should have no connection with Bene service 31915 wowe immediatey Du ou of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and the Pregnanc Advisory Service which would affect about 40,000 women a vear Indirectly it would have another impact and that would be on doctors working within the National Health Service. For quite a few women the certificate for abortion is signed by two doctors who work together and this would be disallowed, we inink by Benyon's Bill. i woule aso be restricave to those women who were requesting termination after 20 weeks of preg nancy. It's true that this is a very smal number out me smarumoe are women who are in dire distress. hav own expenence. women neve ask for the termination of an advanced pregnancy except under very exceptional circumstances.
Another indirect effect would b that, given the present operation of aborHon SCENICCS In i the NHS. many people come into contal with the woman who would then be allowed to say, *I have a conscientious objection to abortion, and raise another hurdle for the woman either defeating her completely delaying her.
I think that those who support women must unite to defend th Abortion Act of 1967, to extend that their own decision and to force the -Service •provide services which are required to proPeople must understand the threat is real and that the fight is on. Battle must be waged N
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