View source for Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Scotland) 2024
| type                  = Scottish Act
| parliament            = Scottish Parliament
| long_title            = An Act of the Scottish Parliament to create safe access zones around premises that provide treatment for the termination of pregnancy authorised under the Abortion Act 1967.
| year                  = 2024
| citation              = 2024 asp 10
| introduced_by         = [[Gillian Mackay]]
| territorial_extent    = [[Scotland]]
| royal_assent          = 22 July 2024
| commencement          =
| expiry_date           =
| repeal_date           =
| amends                =
| replaces              =
| amendments            =
| repealing_legislation =
| related_legislation   =
| status                = not fully in force
| legislation_history   =
| theyworkforyou        =
| millbankhansard       =
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2024/10/enacted
| revised_text          https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2024/10
| use_new_UK-LEG        = yes
| UK-LEG_title          =
| collapsed             =
}}
The '''Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill''' was introduced by [[Gillian Mackay]], [[Scottish Greens]] MSP for [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]] on 5 October 2023. It received [[Royal assent]] on 22 July 2024 and became an Act of the Scottish Parliament. '''The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Scotland) 2024''' creates safe access zones around abortion clinics in Scotland with a radius of 200 metres.
==History==
On 14 April 2022, there was a protest of 100 people outside the [[Queen Elizabeth University Hospital]] held by the anti-abortion group 40 Days for Life.<ref>{{cite news |date=2022-04-14 |title=Doctors' concerns over hospital abortion demos|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61111211|work=BBC|location=London|access-date=2024-07-23}}</ref>
The Northern Ireland Assembly passed similar legislation in 2023: the [[Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023]]. The UK Parliament included a section which created safe zones for abortion clinics in the [[Public Order Act 2023]].
The Royal College of Nursing Scotland released a statement in support of the bill in December 2023.<ref>{{cite report
| author      = <!-- or |last= and |first= -->
| author-link =
| date        = 2023-12-14
| title       = RCN Scotland’s response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s call for views on the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill
| url         = https://www.rcn.org.uk/About-us/Our-Influencing-work/Policy-briefings/sco-parl-abortion-services-safe-access-zones-141223
| publisher   = Royal College of Nursing
| format      = PDF
| location    = Scotland
| chapter     =
| section     =
| page        = 2
| pages       =
| docket      =
| access-date = 2024-07-23
| quote       =  While we have not received a significant number of representations from members who feel threatened by protests at sites, we strongly support the principle that staff and services users should be able to access protected premises without any impediment or fear. We therefore support the creation of safe access zones around protected premises.
}}</ref>
On 25 March 2024, there was a large protest outside the [[Queen Elizabeth University Hospital]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Suter|first1=Ruth |date=2024-03-25 |title=‘Anti-abortion protestors accused of repeated harassment as 100 gather outside Scots hospital|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/anti-abortion-protestors-accused-repeated-32433957|work=Daily Record|location=Glasgow |access-date=2024-07-23}}</ref>
In April, experts questioned why the law created 200 metre safe access zones rather than 150 metre safe access zones, but Gillian Mackay said she was resisting a change and intended to keep the 200 metre restrictions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonar|first1=Megan |date=2024-04-30 |title=MSPs back abortion clinic buffer zone bill at first stage|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51nq5dy095o|work=BBC|location=London|access-date=2024-07-23}}</ref>
On 22 July 2024, the legislation gained Royal Assent.<ref>{{cite news |author=PA Media |date=2024-07-23 |title=‘Milestone for women’s rights’ as abortion buffer zones law gets Royal Assent |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/milestone-for-womens-rights-as-abortion-buffer-zones-law-gets-royal-assent |work=STV News |location=Glasgow |access-date=2024-07-23}} </ref>
== See also ==
*[[Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Menstrual cycle]]
[[Category:Acts of the Scottish Parliament 2024]]
[[Category:Abortion access legislation]]