Moves to keep anti-abortion protesters away from areas around hospitals, including Forth Valley Royal Hospital, have been supported by a local MSP.
Stirling-based regional Green MSP Mark Ruskell has formally supported new proposals lodged by his Green colleague Gillian Mackay MSP to bring in buffer zones outside hospitals and clinics providing abortion services.
Larbert’s Forth Valley Royal Hospital is among those which have previously been targeted by anti-choice protesters.
Gillian Mackay MSP formally submitted her proposal for the roll out of buffer zones to protect the public from abuse and intimidation at abortion clinics to the Scottish Parliament last Thursday, having processed more than 12,000 consultation responses to her bid to introduce safe access zones.
The proposal has since received the backing from five out of six of Scotland’s party political leaders including First Minister Humza Yousaf, Green party-co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
Within a single day of being lodged, the proposal had the support of over 50 MSPs.
The Bill will be progressed after summer recess, with Stage One likely to begin around October. MSPs will then consider and debate the proposals before having a chance to vote them into legislation once the process has been completed.
Mr Ruskell, the Scottish Greens MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “Thanks to the tireless work of campaigners and my parliamentary colleague Gillian Mackay, bringing in safe access zones for patients and staff around abortion clinics in Scotland is within touching distance.
“We can finally end the abuse and intimidation they have endured for too long and send a powerful message to the world about the right to choose.
“The overwhelming support for my colleague’s bill – from across the party, First Ministers past and present, and that of fellow MSPs – is testament to the strength of Ms Mackay’s proposals and the absolute desire for change.
“Thanks to this Bill, we will hopefully soon be in a position to end the kind of disgraceful scenes we have witnessed outside places like Larbert’s Forth Valley Royal Hospital once and for all.
“A great many people have worked tirelessly for this, including Back Off Scotland, the STUC, BMA Scotland, Royal College of GPs and many others, including invaluable support from members of the Irish Government and supporters.
“This has been a long time coming and I do not doubt there may be further hurdles to face.
“But we are on the right side of history and I am determined to see safe buffer zones become an everyday reality across Scotland as quickly and effectively as possible.
“The right to safe, appropriate and above all dignified women’s health care should be viewed as a human right and this proposal is a vital step on that continuing journey.”
