Time’s up for outdated abortion laws.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 or Students for Let’s change the Act

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

Anonymous

A lot of fear was created for health professionals after the 2012 CQC inspections [in England] in which the health secretary and others were talking about arresting doctors and referring them to the General Medical Council for the 'criminal offense' of pre-signing abortion forms. The current climate of prosecutions is also adding to a climate of fear for many abortion care providers.

Decriminalisation of abortion is needed to address this – staff should not be expected to provide care in these circumstances.

Meanwhile there is rising demand for abortions, across services that are not yet back to full capacity after the pandemic. The current unnecessary protocols, as set out in the Abortion Act, are exacerbating resource and capacity issues in Scotland.

Sinead Cook, Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Chair of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Health Scotland Committee.

A niche part of the abortion law, Section 60 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 [the equivalent law in England and Wales] has its origins in a law from 1623, over 100 years before the last woman was burnt alive at the stake. This has had some of the most damaging and oppressive impacts on women, including banning them from having contact with [their] children.

Dr Jonathan Lord, Co-chair of British Society of Abortion Care Providers and RCOG Taskforce

Share yours

Speak up LetsChangeTheAct

It’s happening before our eyes. Time’s UP for outdated abortion laws. We must decriminalise abortion and reform the abortion act of 1967, in Scotland.

We must modernise the broken system we currently have and protect our reproductive rights. Now is the time to speak up.

Join us for free via the link in bio.

#letchangetheact #womenagaianstthefarright #abortion #reproductiverights #scotland #farright

We are calling for the Scottish Government to decriminalisation abortion and reform the Abortion Act 1967. Currently in Scotland, abortion is treated differently from other forms of crucial healthcare under the law, without medical justification.

We must urgently eradicate this stigma; there is no place for it in modern Scotland. Prosecutions for abortion offences have occurred in Scotland in recent years. We need to future-proof now, against an increase in unnecessary prosecutions, as has been seen in England.

#letschangetheact #decriminaliseabortion #reproductiverights #scotland #abortion