I had 6 miscarriages when I was in my early 20s and never fell pregnant for the duration of my long term boyfriend of 11 years. So you can imagine the surprise that at almost 40, in a new relationship of only a few months, I was holding a positive pregnancy test. I was terrified. Which is funny because you’d think an adult of my age should know better, to be more careful but I got complacent. I knew I could not have a baby, I didn’t even know my new partner well enough and I am at a peak point in my career. I made the phone calls needed to organise my termination. Everyone who had a part in my health care were so supportive and kind, I didn’t feel judged or unheard. I was offered the correct care for my circumstances. I know how scared I was as an adult, and I felt relieved that my termination was handled as smoothly as it was.
Time’s up for outdated abortion laws.
For too long women in Scotland have had to settle for a system of abortion law that doesn’t put their needs, health and rights first. We deserve a modern abortion framework that is in sync with the realities of modern healthcare, upholds human rights for all those that need abortion and prevents harmful police investigations and prosecutions.
We demand …
- The full decriminalisation of abortion.
- A modernised, health-based framework for abortion care, to replace the Abortion Act 1967.
Join the campaign
In the face of rising challenges to women’s rights in Scotland, it is essential that we safeguard women’s health by modernising abortion law in line with modern healthcare standards.
Join us for free, as an individual or organisation. Plus, if you’re interested, sign up to connect with one of our campaign groups: Lawyers, Health staff, Artists, Students, Trade Unionists and Researchers for Let’s change the Act.
Sign up to join the campaign. Time’s up for outdated abortion law.
Why?
- The law is in urgent need of modernisation: The criminalisation of abortion in Scotland is rooted in archaic law and the Abortion Act reflects the sexism and clinical practices of the 1960s.
- Scotland is not meeting international health and human rights standards on abortion.
- Criminalisation creates stigma: Abortion is treated differently from other forms of crucial healthcare under the law without medical justification.
- Abortion is crucial for gender equality and women’s rights: Access to safe abortion is essential for rights to privacy, bodily autonomy, safety, access to employment and education, financial security, housing, and health and wellbeing.
- Support for abortion rights is widespread: Repeat polling shows that the overwhelming majority in Scotland (83-97%) agree that “women should have the right to an abortion”. All relevant professional health bodies support decriminalisation.
- Prosecutions for abortion offences have occurred in Scotland in recent years: We need to future proof against an increase in unnecessary police investigations and prosecutions, as have been seen elsewhere in the UK.
Your stories
I was 21 staring at a positive test, knowing that even if I moved mountains there was no way I could make it work.
I exercised my right to access healthcare. I was 5 weeks pregnant when I received my care, delivered with total respect and empathy from the provider. I was supported in my decision and encouraged to look to the future that this decision was giving me.
Having an abortion saved my life. My decision will enable me to be a better parent when I choose to be one. I’m sharing my positive story because the care I received should be the standard, yet I feel that mine was the exception to the rule. The Abortion Act 1967 is outdated and furthering the barriers and stigma to accessing safe abortions for those who need them.
Having an abortion made me even more pro choice and I hope that one day I live in a Scotland where everyone in my situation receives the support I was fortunate enough to get
I'm a trans man and to me there is nothing worse than the thought of being pregnant. I've thankfully never been pregnant, but until I can get through the years long waiting lists for a gender related hysterectomy, I need to retain access to abortion services. Womens rights and trans rights go hand in hand.
The rhetoric that abstinence is the only 100% effective form of contraception drives me insane because isn't 100% effective. Whilst you may choose to abstain from sex you can still be raped. Everyone with a working uterus needs the ability to access safe abortion care and practices in Scotland have fallen behind.
Speak up LetsChangeTheAct
