“Time’s up for outdated abortion laws”: national initiative aims to modernise law and protect reproductive rights.
Charities and civic society organisations have launched a bold new national campaign calling for the full decriminalisation of abortion in Scotland and the replacement of the Abortion Act 1967 with a modern, health-based framework.
On its launching day, ‘Let’s change the Act’ has already gathered support from over 200 individual members and over 30 organisational members, including Amnesty Scotland, Equality Network, STUC, RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) as well as other health and legal experts, and human rights, equality and anti-poverty campaigners.
The campaign sets out two clear demands: the full decriminalisation of abortion, and a modernised, health-based framework for abortion care, to replace the Act of 1967.
Those behind the campaign say Scotland’s abortion law is badly outdated and does not reflect modern clinical practices or international health and human rights standards.
Abortion is treated differently under the law from other essential healthcare services without clinical justification. The group says this creates harmful stigma.
Prosecutions for abortion offences have occurred in Scotland in recent years. We must future-proof against an increase in unnecessary police investigations and prosecutions, as have been seen elsewhere in the UK.
The campaign invites individuals and organisations to join for free, and to engage via focussed campaign groups including for Lawyers, Health Staff, Artists and Students.
Jill Wood, policy manager at Engender Scotland, and on behalf of Let’s change the Act, said: “Today marks a crucial moment in the movement to modernise abortion law in Scotland. Let's change the Act brings together a wide coalition of health, policy and legal experts, trade unionists, abortion rights activists, and human rights and equality campaigners. With over 30 organisations and over 200 individual members signed up by day one, we know there is huge support for this campaign.
“We are calling for the Scottish Government to decriminalise abortion and replace the badly outdated Abortion Act 1967. Women in Scotland deserve a system of abortion care that is in sync with modern healthcare practices and upholds our human rights.
“Currently abortion is treated differently from other forms of crucial healthcare under the law, without medical justification. This creates harmful stigma, especially for marginalised and oppressed groups. Meanwhile, police investigations and prosecutions for abortion offences have occurred in Scotland in recent years and the rise of far-right narratives pose a profound threat to abortion rights and the wellbeing of women, trans and non-binary people in Scotland. We need to safeguard women’s health for future generations and end the threat of criminalisation.
“Routine polling demonstrates overwhelming support in Scotland for women themselves to control decisions about their pregnancies. 83-97% agree that 'women should have the right to an abortion'. Yet our outdated abortion framework is out of step with international health and human rights standards. We need change now. Time's up for outdated abortion law.”
The rise of far-right narratives is a profound threat to abortion rights. Decisionmakers in Scotland must strengthen our abortion framework to safeguard reproductive rights.
Public support for abortion rights is strong – repeat polling by YouGov shows that 83-97% in Scotland agree women should have the right to an abortion.
