Forum Brief: Abortion law

This weekend saw the 35th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Dr Ellie Lee, editor of "Abortion: Whose Right?" is calling for reform, arguing that politicians from all parties are now very reluctant to revisit the abortion issue, deeming it an issue best left outside politics.

Forum Response: Marie Stopes International

A spokesman for Marie Stopes International told ePolitix.com: "Marie Stopes International fully endorses Dr Lee's view that abortion law is long overdue for reform. The 1967 Abortion Act is a discriminatory and paternalistic piece of legislation that denies women's capacity to make their own judgements, and it should have no place on the 21st century statute books.

"The challenge facing the pro-choice lobby is in persuading our political representatives of the need to open the debate for reform.

"A recent survey conducted by BMRB Social Research on behalf of Marie Stopes International (Women's perceptions of abortion law and practice in Britain, 2002), showed that less than one quarter of British women are aware that for an abortion to proceed legally the written permission of two doctors is required.

"When asked who should decide, only four per cent supported the current legal framework. Nine out of ten women (88 per cent) believed that the decision should ultimately rest with the woman concerned.

"Unless and until more women are made aware of the discriminatory law that governs their right to access abortion and are galvanised into taking this issue up with their political representatives, we are sadly unlikely to see any changes."