Labour Group Amendment
Abortion Rights
That the relevant changes are made to the recommendations as shown below in strikethrough and bold italics:
In light of the recent US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade and the public perception that this could in turn erode abortion rights in the UK, this Council:
1. Reiterates its support for a woman’s right to choose free, safe & legal abortion at a local, national and international level
2. Expresses solidarity with women internationally and within the UK and its fundamental belief that women need to feel safe attending an abortion clinic. We deplore intimidating behaviour outside clinics. Where abortion is or has been made illegal, it still continues but unsafely
3. Expresses support for the women of Northern Ireland where the government has failed to commission abortion services, despite legalisation to extend, forcing women to travel abroad for an abortion
4. Expresses its support for women’s rights organisations campaigning for a woman’s right to choose, including the Alliance for Choice in Northern Ireland and Abortion Support Network which are supporting women with practical information, accommodation and the costs of travelling
5. Expresses dismay that abortion continues to be criminalised in England, Wales and Scotland, unless certain criteria apply, and that women are increasingly being prosecuted for accessing abortion, including migrant women, many of whom are denied access to free abortions on the NHS
56.
Asks the Chief Executive to write to the Government to ask them to
include the right to abortion in their planned Bill of
Rights. remove abortion from the criminal statute book
and regulate it as a health matter instead, ensuring free, safe and
legal access across the UK
7. Notes that since the closure of the BPAS clinic, local residents in need of abortions are finding it extremely difficult to access services causing delays and unnecessary trips to London
8. Requests officers work with local healthcare partners to ensure local abortion services are running efficiently and providing a local service to those who need it
Proposed by: Cllr
Grimshaw
Seconded by: Cllr Appich
Motion to read if carried:
In light of the recent US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade and the public perception that this could in turn erode abortion rights in the UK, this Council:
1. Reiterates its support for a woman’s right to choose free, safe & legal abortion at a local, national and international level
2. Expresses solidarity with women internationally and within the UK and its fundamental belief that women need to feel safe attending an abortion clinic. We deplore intimidating behaviour outside clinics. Where abortion is or has been made illegal, it still continues but unsafely
3. Expresses support for the women of Northern Ireland where the government has failed to commission abortion services, despite legalisation to extend, forcing women to travel abroad for an abortion
4. Expresses its support for women’s rights organisations campaigning for a woman’s right to choose, including the Alliance for Choice in Northern Ireland and Abortion Support Network which are supporting women with practical information, accommodation and the costs of travelling
5. Expresses dismay that abortion continues to be criminalised in England, Wales and Scotland, unless certain criteria apply, and that women are increasingly being prosecuted for accessing abortion, including migrant women, many of whom are denied access to free abortions on the NHS
6. Asks the Chief Executive to write to the Government to ask them to remove abortion from the criminal statute book and regulate it as a health matter instead, ensuring free, safe and legal access across the UK
7. Notes that since the closure of the BPAS clinic, local residents in need of abortions are finding it extremely difficult to access services causing delays and unnecessary trips to London
8. Requests officers work with local healthcare partners to ensure local abortion services are running efficiently and providing a local service to those who need it