Engender blog
General Election 2024 – The urgent need to modernise abortion law.
We’re calling on candidates in the upcoming General Election to commit to taking action on four key areas for women if elected. In our What’s in it for women? four-part series, we’ll break down each of our key asks covering health, social security, equal representation and immigration.
Today, we’ll focus on health, and why we’re calling for the urgent modernisation of abortion law in Scotland.
Find and email your local candidates with our pre-written letter here.
Ask one – Health
- Modernise abortion law
- Repeal the Abortion Act 1967
93% of Scots polled support a woman’s right to abortion, yet abortion is treated differently under the law without medical justification. Rather than a legal framework that supports the highest standards of healthcare, we have a patchwork of outdated laws that are no longer fit for purpose.
We urgently need modernised abortion law that works for women’s human rights and prevents further unnecessary prosecutions.
The current legal framework in Scotland is:
- Outdated and falling behind international human rights standards
- Out of step with guidelines from global and national health bodies
- Impeding access to quality abortion care for women
- Perpetuating abortion stigma, harmful gender stereotypes and women’s inequality
- Preventing healthcare practitioners from providing the highest standards of care
- Causing women trauma and lasting harm, that is most pronounced for marginalised women and those in situations of vulnerability
You can read our full report ‘Outdated, harmful and never in the public interest – The urgent need to modernise Scotland’s abortion law and prevent prosecutions’ for more.
The report outlines:
- The case for decriminalisation of abortion
- The current legal position and our 5 suggested models of reform
- Quotes and insights from clinicians
- Case studies
- Prosecutions in England and Wales
- Frequently asked questions and misconceptions around abortion
Clinicians' perspectives
Here are some of the key quotes from clinicians, shared throughout the report, which highlight the urgent need for decriminalisation:
We need change to make women’s voices heard.
The General Election on 4th July is an opportunity for the next UK Government to prioritise women’s rights and equality. Find out if your local candidates are supporting women's rights and the decriminalisation of abortion by contacting them directly.
In a few clicks, contact your local candidates to ask what they will do for women's rights in Scotland.Email your local candidates with our pre-written letter here
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