Dear John, 

Today, we’re celebrating a monumental victory that would not have been possible without you.

Thanks to years of campaigning and the unyielding support of people like you, Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics have officially come into effect!

From today, individuals seeking abortion care in England and Wales can do so free from intimidation, fear, and harassment.

A Hard-Won Battle

The journey to this historic moment was not easy. The campaign for Safe Access Zones, led by BPAS’s “Back Off” coalition began nearly a decade ago. Despite widespread public support and powerful endorsements from organisations like the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and many others, the push faced numerous roadblocks. In October 2022, a pivotal vote in the House of Commons saw MPs supporting the legislation 297-110, underscoring a national demand for these protections. Still, implementation faced delays, with the law finally passing in May 2023 but remaining stalled until last month. On 18^th September 2024, the Home Office announced that the law introducing Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics will be brought into force from today - two years after MPs voted to support this legislation.
 
Over the years, BPAS has documented thousands of harassment cases outside clinics - heartbreaking stories of individuals being harassed and intimidated as they sought safe, legal medical care. Thanks to your voice, and the collective will of MPs across party lines, such harassment will now be a thing of the past.

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