[Fwd: Abortion law issues - please circulate]

[Guest guest]

sorry if this is already available to you in the UK - but thought I should

send it on, just in case!

Sheelah

----------------------- URGENT: Please email or phone your MP this week before the vote

>

>

>

> Please forward widely

>

>

> Key vote on abortion time limit this Tuesday 20th May

> last chance to email or phone your MP!

> The Second Reading of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill took

> place on Monday night in the House of Commons. Already, the

> anti-abortionists have tabled a number of amendments

> <http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmbills/070/amend/pb0

> 701205a.2103-2109.html> to restrict women's access to safe, legal

> abortion. These include amendments to lower the abortion time limit to

> 12,14,16,18 and 20 weeks; to introduce delays and impose US-style

> compulsory briefings for women about foetal development; and to restrict

> the grounds for abortion. Further amendments are expected.

>

> MPs are telling us that hearing from constituents is hugely influential.

> If you haven't already, please take two minutes to send an email to your

> MP or phone them up.

> Please find here and below a model letter

> <http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/> to copy and paste into an email and

> personalise if you wish. To identify your MP and send them an email

> visit upmystreet <http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/>

>

> Alternatively, please phone your MP at the House of Commons during the

> week. Phone the switchboard on 020 7219 3000 and ask for your MP by

> name. If you do not know their name then phone the House of Commons

> Information Office on 020 7219 4272. You can contact their constituency

> office on Friday. Please tell them that you want them to vote against

> any amendments to restrict women's rights to safe, legal abortion

> including any lowering of the abortion time limit. You can use the model

> letter as a guide.

>

> If you have time, you could visit your MP this weekend at their

> constituency surgery. Details will be on your MP's website.

>

> If you know your MP's views on the abortion time limit, please email us

> choice@....

>

> Just a few minutes of your time could make a real difference.

> Thanks for your support,

>

>

> Louise Hutchins,

> Campaign Coordinator

>

>

> MODEL LETTER TO COPY AND PASTE INTO AN EMAIL:

>

> To .........................MP

> House of Commons

> London

> SW1A 0AA

>

>

> Dear MP,

>

> Please vote against any lowering of the abortion time limit on 20th May

>

> I am concerned that anti-abortion MPs aim to use the Human Fertilisation

> and Embryology Bill to lower the 24-week abortion time limit in votes on

> 20th May 2008.

>

> Less than 2% of abortions take place after 20 weeks. They are needed by

> women facing difficult, unforeseeable and always individual

> circumstances - most commonly women whose pregnancy was diagnosed late

> because they were using contraception or nearing the menopause; young

> women or women with mental health problems who cannot acknowledge their

> pregnancy until later; or women with a previously wanted pregnancy who

> face life crises such as domestic violence. No one involved takes the

> decision lightly.

>

> Criminalisation of later abortion would be devastating for this small

> number of women and would embolden anti-abortionists to seek further

> restrictions. It would have no impact on reducing the number of

> unplanned pregnancies in Britain.

>

> The authoritative nationwide EPICURE 2 survey shows that, contrary to

> anti-abortion claims, unfortunately premature babies' survival has not

> significantly improved below 24 weeks gestation. Any lowering of the

> time limit is opposed by the British Medical Association, Royal College

> of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Association of Peri-natal

> Medicine, Royal College of Nursing, Department of Health, the Commons

> Science and Technology Committee, MPs from all three main parities,

> trade unions, women's and student organisations.

>

> Women must be entitled to make the most fundamental decisions over their

> own bodies. Please vote against any attack on women's crucial abortion

> rights. Please let me know your view.

>

> Yours sincerely,

>

> Name

> Address

> Postcode

>

>

>

>

>

> www.abortionrights.org.uk

>

> Abortion Rights

>

> 18 Ashwin Street

> London

> E8 3DL

>

> t/f 020 7923 97 92

>

> choice@...

>

> www.abortionrights.org.uk

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

> Abortion Rights is the UK's grassroots organisation leading the campaign

> to defend and extend women's rights to abortion. We are building a

> pro-choice movement to oppose any restrictions in women's current rights

> and access to abortion, to liberalise the current UK abortion law, and

> to improve women's access to and experience of abortion.

>

> To add your support please visit our website www.abortionrights.org.uk

> or add your voice to www.prochoicemajority.org.uk

>

--

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sheila

will do

Margaret

URGENT: Please email or phone your MP this week before the vote>>>> Please forward widely>>> Key vote on abortion time limit this Tuesday 20th May> last chance to email or phone your MP!> The Second Reading of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill took> place on Monday night in the House of Commons. Already, the> anti-abortionists have tabled a number of amendments> <http://www.publicat ions.parliament. uk/pa/cm200708/ cmbills/070/ amend/pb0> 701205a.2103- 2109.html> to restrict women's access to safe, legal> abortion. These include amendments to lower the abortion time limit to> 12,14,16,18 and 20 weeks; to introduce delays and impose US-style> compulsory briefings for women about foetal development; and to restrict> the grounds for abortion. Further amendments are expected.>> MPs are telling us that hearing from constituents is hugely influential.> If you haven't already, please take two minutes to send an email to your> MP or phone them up.> Please find here and below a model letter> <http://www.abortion rights.org. uk/> to copy and paste into an email and> personalise if you wish. To identify your MP and send them an

email> visit upmystreet <http://www.upmystre et.com/commons/ l/>>> Alternatively, please phone your MP at the House of Commons during the> week. Phone the switchboard on 020 7219 3000 and ask for your MP by> name. If you do not know their name then phone the House of Commons> Information Office on 020 7219 4272. You can contact their constituency> office on Friday. Please tell them that you want them to vote against> any amendments to restrict women's rights to safe, legal abortion> including any lowering of the abortion time limit. You can use the model> letter as a guide.>> If you have time, you could visit your MP this weekend at their> constituency surgery. Details will be on your MP's website.>> If you know your MP's views on the abortion time limit, please email

us> choice@abortionrigh ts.org.uk.>> Just a few minutes of your time could make a real difference.> Thanks for your support,>>> Louise Hutchins,> Campaign Coordinator>>> MODEL LETTER TO COPY AND PASTE INTO AN EMAIL:>> To ............ ......... ....MP> House of Commons> London> SW1A 0AA>>> Dear MP,>> Please vote against any lowering of the abortion time limit on 20th May>> I am concerned that anti-abortion MPs aim to use the Human Fertilisation> and Embryology Bill to lower the 24-week abortion time limit in votes on> 20th May 2008.>> Less than 2% of abortions take place after 20 weeks. They are needed by> women facing difficult,

unforeseeable and always individual> circumstances - most commonly women whose pregnancy was diagnosed late> because they were using contraception or nearing the menopause; young> women or women with mental health problems who cannot acknowledge their> pregnancy until later; or women with a previously wanted pregnancy who> face life crises such as domestic violence. No one involved takes the> decision lightly.>> Criminalisation of later abortion would be devastating for this small> number of women and would embolden anti-abortionists to seek further> restrictions. It would have no impact on reducing the number of> unplanned pregnancies in Britain.>> The authoritative nationwide EPICURE 2 survey shows that, contrary to> anti-abortion claims, unfortunately premature babies' survival has not> significantly improved below 24 weeks gestation. Any lowering

of the> time limit is opposed by the British Medical Association, Royal College> of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Association of Peri-natal> Medicine, Royal College of Nursing, Department of Health, the Commons> Science and Technology Committee, MPs from all three main parities,> trade unions, women's and student organisations.>> Women must be entitled to make the most fundamental decisions over their> own bodies. Please vote against any attack on women's crucial abortion> rights. Please let me know your view.>> Yours sincerely,>> Name> Address> Postcode>>>>>> www.abortionrights. org.uk>> Abortion Rights>> 18 Ashwin Street> London> E8 3DL>> t/f 020 7923 97 92>> choice@abortionrigh ts.org.uk>> www.abortionrights. org.uk>> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> Abortion Rights is the UK's grassroots organisation leading the campaign> to defend and extend women's rights to abortion. We are building a> pro-choice movement to oppose any restrictions in women's current rights> and access to abortion, to liberalise the current UK abortion law, and> to improve women's access to and experience of abortion.>> To add your support please visit our website www.abortionrights. org.uk> or add your voice to www.prochoicemajori ty.org.uk>--

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[Guest guest]

Thank you Sheila

will do

Margaret

URGENT: Please email or phone your MP this week before the vote>>>> Please forward widely>>> Key vote on abortion time limit this Tuesday 20th May> last chance to email or phone your MP!> The Second Reading of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill took> place on Monday night in the House of Commons. Already, the> anti-abortionists have tabled a number of amendments> <http://www.publicat ions.parliament. uk/pa/cm200708/ cmbills/070/ amend/pb0> 701205a.2103- 2109.html> to restrict women's access to safe, legal> abortion. These include amendments to lower the abortion time limit to> 12,14,16,18 and 20 weeks; to introduce delays and impose US-style> compulsory briefings for women about foetal development; and to restrict> the grounds for abortion. Further amendments are expected.>> MPs are telling us that hearing from constituents is hugely influential.> If you haven't already, please take two minutes to send an email to your> MP or phone them up.> Please find here and below a model letter> <http://www.abortion rights.org. uk/> to copy and paste into an email and> personalise if you wish. To identify your MP and send them an

email> visit upmystreet <http://www.upmystre et.com/commons/ l/>>> Alternatively, please phone your MP at the House of Commons during the> week. Phone the switchboard on 020 7219 3000 and ask for your MP by> name. If you do not know their name then phone the House of Commons> Information Office on 020 7219 4272. You can contact their constituency> office on Friday. Please tell them that you want them to vote against> any amendments to restrict women's rights to safe, legal abortion> including any lowering of the abortion time limit. You can use the model> letter as a guide.>> If you have time, you could visit your MP this weekend at their> constituency surgery. Details will be on your MP's website.>> If you know your MP's views on the abortion time limit, please email

us> choice@abortionrigh ts.org.uk.>> Just a few minutes of your time could make a real difference.> Thanks for your support,>>> Louise Hutchins,> Campaign Coordinator>>> MODEL LETTER TO COPY AND PASTE INTO AN EMAIL:>> To ............ ......... ....MP> House of Commons> London> SW1A 0AA>>> Dear MP,>> Please vote against any lowering of the abortion time limit on 20th May>> I am concerned that anti-abortion MPs aim to use the Human Fertilisation> and Embryology Bill to lower the 24-week abortion time limit in votes on> 20th May 2008.>> Less than 2% of abortions take place after 20 weeks. They are needed by> women facing difficult,

unforeseeable and always individual> circumstances - most commonly women whose pregnancy was diagnosed late> because they were using contraception or nearing the menopause; young> women or women with mental health problems who cannot acknowledge their> pregnancy until later; or women with a previously wanted pregnancy who> face life crises such as domestic violence. No one involved takes the> decision lightly.>> Criminalisation of later abortion would be devastating for this small> number of women and would embolden anti-abortionists to seek further> restrictions. It would have no impact on reducing the number of> unplanned pregnancies in Britain.>> The authoritative nationwide EPICURE 2 survey shows that, contrary to> anti-abortion claims, unfortunately premature babies' survival has not> significantly improved below 24 weeks gestation. Any lowering

of the> time limit is opposed by the British Medical Association, Royal College> of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Association of Peri-natal> Medicine, Royal College of Nursing, Department of Health, the Commons> Science and Technology Committee, MPs from all three main parities,> trade unions, women's and student organisations.>> Women must be entitled to make the most fundamental decisions over their> own bodies. Please vote against any attack on women's crucial abortion> rights. Please let me know your view.>> Yours sincerely,>> Name> Address> Postcode>>>>>> www.abortionrights. org.uk>> Abortion Rights>> 18 Ashwin Street> London> E8 3DL>> t/f 020 7923 97 92>> choice@abortionrigh ts.org.uk>> www.abortionrights. org.uk>> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> Abortion Rights is the UK's grassroots organisation leading the campaign> to defend and extend women's rights to abortion. We are building a> pro-choice movement to oppose any restrictions in women's current rights> and access to abortion, to liberalise the current UK abortion law, and> to improve women's access to and experience of abortion.>> To add your support please visit our website www.abortionrights. org.uk> or add your voice to www.prochoicemajori ty.org.uk>--

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