Clare Murphy, Chief Executive at BPAS:
We are shocked and appalled by the draft opinion from the Supreme Court to remove women’s constitutional right to abortion in the US. If Roe v Wade were overturned women in a string of US states would lose access to abortion altogether or face even greater restrictions than they do already. It represents a body blow to reproductive rights and women’s bodily autonomy in the so-called land of the free.
Banning abortion does not remove women’s need to end a pregnancy. It simply makes it more difficult and more dangerous for women. It forces women to either make long journeys to access the care they need, or take matters into their own hands. Those that suffer the most are those who can least afford it. While abortion pills in the post may represent a lifeline for women in these circumstances, many women will still need in-clinic care. Removing these women’s access to swift, safe abortion services is utterly contemptible and has absolutely no place in a society that calls itself civilised in the 21st Century.
We are also concerned about the message this sends to the world at a time when women in many countries are still struggling to achieve abortion rights. It further underlines the need for the UK to be a beacon for women’s reproductive choice and we call on the UK Government to clearly condemn what is nothing short of an assault on women, their families and their lives.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Katherine O’Brien, BPAS Associate Director of Campaigns and Communications, on katherine.o’brien@bpas.org or 07881 265276.
About BPAS
BPAS is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain. It supports and advocates for reproductive choice. BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, which seeks to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers women’s access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare, driven by an understanding of women’s perspectives and needs. You can find out more here: https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/centre-for-reproductive-research-communication/
In 2021, BPAS launched BPAS Fertility, England’s first not-for-profit fertility service, to provide ethical, evidence-based, person-centred care that supports patients. We provide a safe, high-quality, and accessible service, without profiteering from patients. Our service gives those ineligible for NHS funding an affordable option to access the care they need.
