The introduction of abortion clinic buffer zones in England and Wales has been described as a “tragic day for girls”.
On Thursday, “protected entry zones” got here into impact exterior abortion clinics, criminalizing prayers and provides of sensible assist as much as 150 meters from the ability.
The buffer zones had been launched by the Public Order Act 2023 after gaining majority assist in Parliament.
In keeping with them, it’s “illegal for anybody to do something which willfully or recklessly influences somebody's choice to make use of abortion providers, prevents them from doing so or causes harassment or misery to anybody who makes use of or works on the premises”, the House Workplace stated.
The zones had been launched regardless of a survey by Savanta exhibiting that solely a fifth of the inhabitants assist them, with the bottom assist amongst 18- to 13-year-olds at simply 15%.
There have been fears that buffer zones will result in prosecutions of Christians and pro-life activists after military veteran Adam Smith-Connor was convicted of praying silently within the buffer zone of an abortion clinic in Bournemouth.
A spokeswoman for Proper To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, stated: “This can be a tragic day for girls who’re going through an unplanned being pregnant and want assist, and for his or her unborn youngsters.
“A whole lot of girls over time have obtained sensible assist from pro-life volunteers exterior of abortion clinics, assist that has supplied an actual different to abortion.
“Right now's introduction of buffer zones will criminalize provides of assist exterior abortion clinics. This assist not solely provides ladies an actual selection, but in addition helps those that might face coercion.”
“With out it, many ladies can have abortions they didn't need, and plenty of extra youngsters's lives will probably be tragically misplaced to abortion.”
