Nevertheless, they persisted. Today Gillian Mackay MSP’s landmark bill was passed, paving the way for safe access zones at abortion clinics in Scotland. Huge congratulations to Alice, Lucy and all the courageous young women at Back Off Scotland who fought for buffer zones and won.

Thanks to Steph Brawn for talking to us about how we feel following last week’s vote in the Scottish Parliament ❤️

Buffer zones are now law, but our work to ensure that women can access safe, legal, local abortion is not finished. The number of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 women having to travel to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 for abortion care is rising year on year. It is an absolute scandal, and the gov need to prioritise fixing this.

Abortion in the The SNP manifesto today. States all women “should” have access to timely and safe care. Right now, all Scottish health boards can’t provide abortions over the 20 week gestation period. The legal limit is 24 weeks and Scottish women have to travel to England.

Even when Scottish Parliament votes overwhelmingly in support of the safe access zones bill, anti abortion activists continue to protest and hold vigils. If this isn’t an example of why these people have no place outside a healthcare facility, we don’t know what is.

These anti-abortion activists have returned to the QEUH in Glasgow for their usual Tuesday protest. Although we changed the law, we are still without an implementation date meaning that this activity cannot currently be stopped. As soon as we know when this is we will update.

Back Off Scotland When ScotParl backed Gillian’s bill, they acknowledged this problem exists and that people are to be protected from it. Yet with no ascent and no effective date, this crass horror show is permitted to continue. John Swinney, when will your Govt move on this? #AbortionIsHealthcare

This is not support. This is harassment. Anti-choice campaigners continue to highlight why safe access zones are needed. This legislation can’t come into force a day too soon.

🧵The bill should be going for Royal Assent shortly (passed almost four weeks ago). HOWEVER : bill states that most of the provisions in the Act “come into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations appoint.” (1/3) parliament.scot/-/media/files/…

No one should have to travel to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 for abortion care they are legally entitled to receive in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. The number of women making this journey is creeping up every year, and we are now at the highest rate since pre-covid. Scot Gov *must* fix this. news.stv.tv/scotland/numbe…

Today the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill became an Act!!!! A really nice way to come back from honeymoon. Looking forward to getting a commencement date ASAP for the Act so that we can see an end to protests outside hospitals.

Anti-abortion activists in Glasgow continue to harass women accessing abortion services, this time with a sign stating “abortion is not healthcare”. We look forward to Gillian Mackay MSP’s Act being implemented. Not a moment too soon for this behaviour to end.

Please take some time to read about the impact that anti-abortion activists at the QEUH have had on a brave new mum. Rebekah described the protests as “dampening what should be a beautiful first few days with a newborn”. Absolutely shameful behaviour. dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-…

Dr Rachel Broady It's because the anti-abortion groups use 'silent prayer' as a trojan horse for everything they do - what they mean is protect people doing this ⬇️ outside clinics. The law is based on Northern Ireland and global examples & the approach has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Worth noting that women in Scotland can’t even access abortion to the full extent of the current law. No health board in Scotland provides care up to the legal limit so women have to routinely travel to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. Providing the care within the country must surely be the priority.

But the government’s response to my decriminalisation petition was that abortion would be a healthcare and not a criminal matter, so are they doing this or not?

‼️ Great news that safe access zones will come into force in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 on 24th Sep. Not a moment too soon, and just in time for 40 Days for Life starting on 25th Sep!

The Safe Access Zones Scotland Bill will come into force from September 24th! 😀 This is a pivotal moment for reproductive rights in Scotland. I am delighted that we have an implementation date and that change is coming.

On 24 Sep 2024 the Abortion Services Act comes into force. From this date it will be a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly influence, harass or prevent anyone from accessing or providing abortion services in protected zones. More➡️gov.scot/news/safe-acce…