ISSUES
: Abortion
Chapter 2: Abortion debate
33
Source: Ipsos Global @dvisor,
Abortion
, February 2016
Abortion should be permitted whenever a woman
decides she wants one
Sweden
France
Great Britain
Hungary
Turkey
Spain
Canada
Belgium
Italy
Australia
Germany
Russia
US
India
Japan
Poland
South Korea
South Africa
Argentina
China
Mexico
Brazil
Peru
11%
16%
25%
26%
31%
32%
33%
26%
35%
40%
41%
45%
50%
53%
55%
56%
57%
59%
60%
62%
62%
69%
84%
see abortion legalised from the
existing 24-week limit, in most
cases, up until the point of birth.
“That’s why pro-life supporters
from different backgrounds, people
of faith and none, in addition to
concerned organisations and
individuals have decided that we
must stand together in the face of
this onslaught.
“In their statement, the abortion
lobby call for ‘Woman centred
care’ – but abortion is a traumatic
and damaging procedure, carrying
physical and mental health risks
for women.”
The campaign group claimed that
8.5 million abortions have taken
place in the UK since 1967, with
11,475 occurring in Scotland.
The campaign’s spokeswoman
added: “If we keep going at the
current annual pace of abortion, then
in less than three years Scotland will
reach the 500,000 mark since the
passing of the Abortion Act in 1967.
“If the law is liberalised that total will
be reached much sooner, fuelled by
women travelling from all over the
UK and beyond to make use of the
relaxing of the laws.
“That would be a tragedy for
every unborn baby whose life
is taken. It would
also be a tragedy
for this country
if its reputation
throughout the world
is to be sullied as we
become known as
an abortion tourist
destination.”
Scottish
ministers
are due to get control
over abortion laws as
part of the Scotland
Bill, which is currently
going
through
Westminster.
Labour has said that
it will try to delay
the devolution of
abortion by a year to
allow time for a review
into the potential
consequences.
Under the 1967
act it is illegal for a
woman to have an
abortion without the
permission of two
doctors. However,
campaigners want
this law changed so
that the permission
of only one doctor is
required.
Ann Furedi, the chief
executive of bpas,
told the
Herald
:
“Scotland has a
proud tradition of
progressive abortion
policy and practice,
and
devolution
provides the Scottish
Government with the opportunity to
once again lead the way.
“One in three women will have an
abortion in their lifetime in the UK.
“The ability to end a pregnancy has
enabled women to live their lives in
the way that they see fit and bear
children at the time they think is
right.
“It is high time we recognised this by
taking abortion out of the criminal
law, and making clear that we trust
women to make their own decisions
about their own lives and bodies.”
A
Scottish
Government
spokeswoman said it has no plans
to change the law on abortion,
adding: “Abortion is provided to all
women in Scotland who require it,
within the law.”
9 February 2016
Ö
The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from
Herald Scotland
. Please
visit
for further information
© Herald Scotland 2016
“If we keep going at
the current annual pace
of abortion, then in
less than three years
Scotland will reach the
500,000 mark since the
passing of the Abortion
Act in 1967”
“The reality is that
women are often
pressurised to have an
abortion – abolishing
abortion law will mean
more pressure on
women in Scotland to
submit to abortion, and
less real support for
pregnant mothers”
