A "disappointing" six-week anti-abortion protest that could have an "intimidating effect" on service users has been called out by health professionals and pro-choice campaigners. Texas-based organisation 40 Days For Life will begin a 40-day "prayer vigil" outside clinics offering abortion services in Scotland on September 28.
Their latest protest will run from 8am - 8pm until November 6, with healthcare services being targeted in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Falkirk. The group - who previously confirmed they had network of several hundred volunteers in Scotland - was set up in 2004 by people protesting at an abortion facility in Texas.
They expanded their network through the southern states of America before infiltrating new countries to become a world-wide group. Recent protests outside of the Sandyford Clinic have left patients extremely distressed as men with graphic banners and loudspeakers caused disruption. Staff were forced to play loud music from their cars to try and drown them out.
Ahead of the Edinburgh protest outside of Chalmers Clinic, NHS Lothian reassured patients they would do everything possible to minimise disruption.
A spokesperson said: "NHS Lothian wants to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring patients can access all health services whenever they need them. In Lothian, we value and support our dedicated and specialist teams who work hard to provide person-centred care.
"Chalmers provides vital sexual health services for a range of patients on matters such as: contraception; sexually transmitted infections; HIV testing, care and prevention; pregnancy; menopause; and support to victims of sexual assault.
"We are disappointed to hear of the planned anti-abortion demonstration near the premises, which could have the effect of intimidating our staff and people that need support from our services. We would like to reassure our patients that we remain resolute in providing a high standard of safe and legal care and will do all we can to minimise disruption."
Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay recently received more than 12,000 responses to her proposed bill on legislation for buffer zones around abortion clinics in Scotland. The Bill would establish 150-metre safe access zones outside of medical facilities offering abortion services and has been supported by the Scottish Government, with the First Minister vowing to take a range of actions to improve women’s access to healthcare.
Welcoming the Scottish Government support for her bill earlier this month, Gillian said: “Nobody should be abused or intimidated when accessing healthcare, but, over recent years, we have seen a huge increase in anti-choice campaigners targeting medical facilities that provide abortion services.
“Some of the campaigners are bringing graphic banners and using loudspeakers. The service users and staff I have spoken to have told me about the terrible impact that these so-called vigils have had.
“I am delighted that the Scottish Government is supporting my Bill to stop these shameful protests once and for all. Abortion rights are human rights, and, as the appalling decision to rollback reproductive rights in the US shows, our progress can be fragile. That is why we must do everything we can to protect and advance it.
“I will be working with the Scottish Government to ensure that these vital changes are in place as soon as possible to make sure that nobody is harassed in this way.”
Campaign group Back Off Scotland have been fighting for the right to harassment-free access to abortion services in Scotland since they were formed in 2020. Co-founder Alice Murray, who experienced abortion clinic harassment herself, described the next round of protests as frustrating.
She said: “It’s frustrating that tomorrow ‘40 days for life’ will start their next round of 40 day anti-choice protests and I’m sure it will be upsetting for many people to see. We are really hopeful that with the support from the Scottish Government, this may be the last 40 days for life protest we see outside a clinic in Scotland.
"Legislation understandably takes time and until buffer zones are in place, we understand that there is little that police or councils can do right now. The next 40 days will likely highlight exactly why we need buffer zones in Scotland.
“As someone who has experienced anti-choice harassment first hand, I know how scary it can be to enter a clinic and it makes me feel sick that there are many people who may not receive essential health care this month due to the actions of one group. This is an opportunity for members of the public to raise awareness of this issue by writing to their MSPs and engaging with our online campaign to make sure we have full support from those who will vote on the bill.”
The CEO of 40 Days for Life recently compared Scotland's stance on buffer zones to North Korea and described the government as "bigoted". In August, Shawn Carney tweeted: "The bigoted @ScotParl wants to ban their long and noble track record of free speech and peaceful assembly because they hate @40daysforlife. Scotland is doing an excellent impersonation of North Korea."
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