Agenda, decisions and minutes

That this Council

1.    Agree that the decision taken in the Supreme Court of America to overturn the Landmark ruling of Roe V Wade is a step backwards for human rights.

2.    Agree that this decision in the American Courts does not affect the rights of women in Great Britain it is nevertheless a decision not worthy of the United States of America.

3.    Agrees with Dr Edward Morris, president of the UK’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who said: “Limiting access to abortions won’t reduce the number of abortions happening, it will just make abortions less safe.”

4.    Notes American-based anti-choice group 40 Days for Life have held a ‘prayer vigil’ at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary hospital earlier this year.

1.    Therefore, agrees that Council should liaise with the Scottish Government in order to bring forward a byelaw to introduce buffer zones as a short-term measure to prevent fear, harassment or intimidation for any women using clinics that provide abortion services until such time as the Scottish Government legislate on the matter.

With a report coming back to the next Council on progress.

The Council had before it the wording of the written request for this special Council meeting which had been signed by 20 members in accordance with Standing Order 8.2.2:-

“That this Council

(1)         Agree that the decision taken in the Supreme Court of America to overturn the landmark ruling of Roe V Wade is a step backwards for human rights.

(2)         Agree that this decision in the American Courts does not affect the rights of women in Great Britain it is nevertheless a decision not worthy of the United States of America.

(3)         Agrees with Dr Edward Morris, president of the UK’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who said: “Limiting access to abortions won’t reduce the number of abortions happening, it will just make abortions less safe.

(4)         Notes American-based anti-choice group 40 Days for Life have held a ‘prayer vigil’ at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary hospital earlier this year.

(1)         Therefore, agrees that Council should liaise with the Scottish Government in order to bring forward a byelaw to introduce buffer zones as a short-term measure to prevent fear, harassment or intimidation for any women using clinics that provide abortion services until such time as the Scottish Government legislate on the matter.

With a report coming back to the next Council on progress.”

Councillor Radley moved, seconded by Councillor Fairfull:-

          That this Council -

(1)       agrees that the decision taken by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organisation to overturn the landmark ruling of Roe v Wade, which has now removed access to safe abortion for millions of women in the United States of America, is a step backwards for human rights;

(2)       notes that the decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organisation will not have legal implications beyond the United States of America, but believes that this will embolden those around the world who seek to restrict access to safe abortions;

(3)       agrees with Dr Edward Morris, president of the UK’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who said “Limiting access to abortions won’t reduce the number of abortions happening, it will just make abortions less safe”;

(4)       notes with concern that protests, by groups and individuals who seek to restrict access to safe abortions, have already taken place at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary this year, and further notes that some of these have been organised under the guise of being ‘prayer vigils’;

(5)       understands that protests outside abortion clinics can cause those seeking access to services to feel distressed, alarmed, intimidated and/or harassed;

(6)       agrees that nobody seeking to access abortion services in Aberdeen should be subject to harassment and intimidation;

(7)       believes that a restriction on protests, within close proximity to abortion clinics, that seek to influence the behaviour of abortion service users and providers, often described as a ‘buffer zone’, would be a necessary and proportionate measure;

(8)       believes that a ‘buffer zone’ should be established at any appropriate healthcare sites that provide abortion services in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.