SPUC has just launched a new petition calling on the First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, to reject dangerous buffer zone legislation and respect human rights.

Background

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill, sponsored by Gillian MacKay, Green Party MSP, would create exclusion zones around all abortion facilities across Scotland. Initially these zones would be a minimum of 200 metres, but the Bill allows abortion providers to make an application to extend the boundary. This is more extreme than legislation in England and Wales. The Public Order Act (2023) sets the limits of buffer zones at 150 meters and does not permit extensions.
 

The Scottish proposals will even prohibit silent prayer, reintroducing thought crime into Scottish law for the first time since freedom of religion was recognised as a human right.

And because the Bill provides no exception for residential buildings, people living within an exclusion zone could face prosecution for displaying a pro-life poster in their window of their home or a pro-life sticker on their car.

In fact, just being in an area visible or audible to someone within the buffer zone, risks a £10,000 fine or an unlimited fine if convicted by a court.

Is this a progressive route for Scotland?

If Humza Yousaf’s Government is committed to making Scotland “a modern, inclusive nation which respects, protects, and fulfils all internationally recognised human rights” then it should oppose the passage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill.

Please sign this petition calling on Humza Yousaf to reject then he Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill and respect human rights.