Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill

Author: SPICe Research

PDF Published: Wednesday 31 Jan 2024 (SB 24-05)

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Overview
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Overview
Report
- Summary
- Scottish Parliament consideration of the Bill at Stage 1
- A note on language
- Introduction
- The context of the Bill
  - Abortion provision in Scotland
  - Anti-abortion activity in Scotland
  - Key organisations supporting and opposing the Bill
  - Consideration of alternatives to introducing legislation
  - Gillian Mackay MSP's consultation on safe access zones legislation
- Human rights considerations
  - The legal and constitutional position of the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights
  - What is covered by the rights engaged by the Bill
    
    Article 8: the right to respect for private and family life
    
    Article 9: freedom of thought, conscience and religion
    
    Article 10: freedom of expression
    
    Article 11: freedom of assembly and association
  - Restricting and balancing human rights
  - UK court judgments in relation to restrictions on protest around abortion clinics
    
    Dulgheriu and Orthova v the London Borough of Ealing
    
    Reference by the Attorney General of Northern Ireland – Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Northern Ireland) Bill
- What the Bill would do
  - The aims of the Bill
  - Establishment of safe access zones for protected premises
  - Criminal offences created by the Bill
    
    Behaviours covered by the offences
    
    Exceptions to the offences
    
    Penalties for the offences
  - Changes to safe access zones
  - Ministerial guidance
  - General provisions
- Financial memorandum
Sources

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Scottish Parliament. (2023). Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Policy Memorandum. SP Bill 34-PM, Session 6 (2023). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/abortion-services-safe-access-zones-scotland-bill/introduced/policy-memorandum-accessible.pdf [accessed 19 December 2023]

Scottish Parliament. (2023). Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Explanatory Notes. SP Bill 34 - EN, Session 6 (2023).. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/abortion-services-safe-access-zones-scotland-bill/introduced/explanatory-notes-accessible.pdf [accessed 20 December 2023]

Scottish Parliament. (2023). Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum. SP Bill 34 - FM, Session 6 (2023). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/s6-bills/abortion-services-safe-access-zones-scotland-bill/introduced/financial-memo-accessible.pdf [accessed 20 2023]

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Last Updated: 9/12 6:00pm

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