Pro-choice campaigners have branded the behaviour of protestors gathering outside a Glasgow hospital as 'insidious' and have said that government inaction is 'emboldening' those taking part.
Around 100 pro-life campaigners lined a street facing the maternity unit at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the final day of their 40 days of 'vigils'.
Pro-choice organisation Back Off Scotland said that action must be taken to prevent such scenes from unfolding in the future, with the protests being described as 'escalating'.
The group has called for women’s health minister Maree Todd to resign over her “lack of action” in tackling anti-choice protests that can be heard from inside the maternity wards.
Co-founder Lucy Grieve said: "The situation has definitely escalated. It's really tangible harassment and the protests are doing untold harm and having a lasting impact on all those coming into contact with them.
"These are women who are going to appointments for a range of reasons including fetal abnormalities.
"The lack of action from the government is emboldening the protestors, especially the fact there's been no press statement. It's been left to a group of students to get a response."
Back Off Scotland has been campaigning for the Scottish Government to implement protest-free buffer zones outside of all clinics providing abortion services across Scotland since 2020.
The SNP made buffer zone commitments in their 2021 manifesto, Programme for Government, but Women’s Health Minister, Maree Todd MSP, has since passed the responsibility on to local councils.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) Counsel has confirmed that this must be addressed nationally, and to do so on a local authority basis would be unlawful.
Lucy added: "The protests are getting really insidious. Women are being picketed while entering the building, by people opposing the choice they are making. We've spoken to doctors and nurses who say they can hear the chanting from outside the ward.
"We came up with the zone to ensure that people coming in on public transport wouldn't need to walk past the protestors.
"We launched the campaign for a 150m buffer zone from the perimeter of the hospital - not from the front door. But if this distance isn't enough, Maree can boost that as it's within her power."
Scottish Green health spokesperson Gillian Mackay has brought forward a member’s bill that would create the buffer zones around abortion clinics and other healthcare settings to prevent protestors restricting access to services.
Mackay said there is a risk that leaving it to local authorities to act creates the risk of a “postcode lottery, whereby some women are able to access abortion services without fear of harassment, but others are not”.
She added: “I believe that a national approach is required.
Monica Lennon, Central Scotland MSP, said the protestors could potentially prevent women from accessing a safe abortion.
She commented: "These protests are completely unacceptable and are creating a barrier to safe abortion healthcare.
“Intimidating those seeking abortions and reproductive healthcare in this way has no place in today’s society.
“The Scottish Government was warned about this and urged to create buffer zones but did nothing - now the protests are escalating.
“Scottish Ministers should introduce national legislation or commit to fast tracking the Members’ Bill by Gillian Mackay MSP. There is cross-party support for legislation; we just need SNP ministers to do their jobs.”
Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport Maree Todd said: “The Scottish Government believes all women in Scotland should be able to access timely abortion care without judgment, within the limits of the law, should they require it. I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any attempts to intimidate women as they choose to access abortion services.
“I have convened a working group with partners such as COSLA, Police Scotland and affected councils and health boards to seek to find an appropriate way forward as soon as possible in relation to protests or vigils outside abortion clinics.
“The working group is continuing to explore ways to ensure that women can access abortion services without feeling harassed or intimidated
“We are looking forward to Gillian Mackay MSP bringing forward her member’s bill on buffer zones and I have publicly committed to work constructively with her in this regard.”
