Abortion rights

Conference notes that abortion is still not legally available to all women in the UK on request. Any woman taking this difficult and emotional decision must still receive the consent of two doctors in order to proceed. Conference notes that the British Medical Association supports removing the requirement for two doctors’ signatures to approve the procedure.

Conference believes that the Abortion Rights Act 1967 needs updating to give women the right to make this decision as with any medical procedure.

We therefore call upon the Executive Council to:

i) Work with trade unions and other interested organisations to campaign for change in the law, giving women the ‘right to choose’

ii) Actively lobby all political parties to raise access concerns and ensure that future progressive changes in the existing 1967 Act are fully enforced

iii) Support raising of public awareness, change the culture of stigma and discrimination

iv) Campaign for the implementation of abortion provision up to the legal limit

v) Promote affiliation and active participation in local Abortion Rights groups across the UK and campaign for activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act.